Shell Nederland B.V. and Shell Overseas Investments B.V., subsidiaries of Shell plc, have taken the final investment decision to build Holland Hydrogen I, which will be Europe’s largest renewable H₂ plant once operational in 2025.

The 200MW electrolyzer will be constructed on the Tweede Maasvlakte in the port of Rotterdam and will produce up to 60,000 kilograms of renewable H₂ per day.

The renewable power for the electrolyzer will come from the offshore wind farm Hollandse Kust (noord), which is partly owned by Shell.

The renewable H₂ produced will supply the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rotterdam, by way of the HyTransPort pipeline, where it will replace some of the grey H₂ usage in the refinery. This will partially decarbonize the facility’s production of energy products like petrol and diesel and jet fuel. As heavy-duty trucks are coming to market and refueling networks grow, renewable H₂ supply can also be directed toward these to help in decarbonizing commercial road transport.

“Holland Hydrogen I demonstrates how new energy solutions can work together to meet society’s need for cleaner energy. It is also another example of Shell’s own efforts and commitment to become a net-zero emissions business by 2050,” said Anna Mascolo, Executive Vice President, Emerging Energy Solutions at Shell. “Renewable H₂ will play a pivotal role in the energy system of the future and this project is an important step in helping H₂ fulfil that potential.”

Shell’s ambition is to help build a global H₂ economy by developing opportunities in the production, storage, transport and delivery of H₂ to end customers. Holland Hydrogen I’s approval marks an important milestone on that journey not only for the Netherlands, as a leader in the H₂ economy, but also for Shell globally.