Air Liquide/TotalEnergies to invest EUR1 bn in Dutch green projects

In a major step towards decarbonising European industry and mobility, gases firm Air Liquide has announced two large-scale electrolyser projects to produce renewable and low-carbon hydrogen in Europe. The first project, ELYgator, an Air Liquide 200MW electrolyser, will supply both French petchem firm TotalEnergies’ industrial platform and other European industrial and heavy-duty mobility needs, leveraging already secured renewable electricity from two offshore windfarms. In addition, Air Liquide and TotalEnergies announce the creation of a joint venture to develop a 250MW electrolyser to supply the Zeeland refinery site.

Upon completion, these two projects would represent a combined investment of more than EUR1 billion and enable the avoidance of up to 500,000 tonnes/year of CO2-equivalent emissions.

Air Liquide projects to build, own and operate a 200MW electrolyser in Maasvlakte, Rotterdam. With an estimated production of up to 23,000 tonnes of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen annually, the project will notably supply TotalEnergies’ industrial platform through a long term contract.

In addition, thanks to its existing hydrogen pipeline network, Air Liquide will also be able to serve additional Dutch and Belgian customers with industrial and heavy-duty mobility needs. Air Liquide will leverage renewable power production from TotalEnergies’ share of OranjeWind windfarm as well as Power Purchase Agreements with Vattenfall from the Hollandse Kust Zuid (HKZ) offshore wind farm off the Dutch coast.

This project has already been provided support from the EU’s Innovation Fund and the Dutch IPCEI program. With the implementation of RFNBO regulations and requested subsidies, the project will be operational at the end of 2027.

Leading the path to decarbonisation of the industry, Air Liquide and TotalEnergies also announce the creation of a 50/50 joint venture to develop a 250MW electrolyser in the Zeeland province, Netherlands. Powered by renewable power from TotalEnergies’ share of Oranjewind, this project aims to produce up to 30,000 tonnes of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen annually with an ambition to be completed in 2029 pending final authorisations and investment decision.

For these two projects, Air Liquide will leverage leading electrolyzer technology manufactured by its joint venture with Siemens Energy.

The ELYgator project has received support from the EU’s Innovation Fund. The Innovation Fund is 100% funded by the EU Emissions Trading Systems.

It is also supported by the subsidy program IPCEI Hydrogen that the Dutch Enterprise Agency carries out on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate.