TotalEnergies is actively developing low-carbon hydrogen using its own wind power. (Photo: TotalEnergies)
TotalEnergies and Air Liquide announced on Feb. 18 that they will invest €600 million (about USD 627 million) to produce green hydrogen in the Netherlands using offshore wind energy. The project is expected to generate 45,000 tons of green hydrogen annually, reducing 450,000 tons of carbon emissions for refineries.
TotalEnergies supplies offshore wind power for hydrogen production
To meet its European hydrogen decarbonization target for refineries by 2030, TotalEnergies and Air Liquide will jointly invest in two green hydrogen development projects in the Netherlands.
One of the projects involves forming a 50/50 joint venture to build an electrolyzer with a capacity of 250 MW near the Zeeland refinery, which is expected to begin operations in 2029. This facility will produce 30,000 tons of green hydrogen annually, helping the refinery cut 300,000 tons of carbon emissions.
The second project involves Air Liquide’s Elygator electrolyzer development in Rotterdam. TotalEnergies will supply renewable energy generated by its OranjeWind offshore wind farm, with green hydrogen produced for use at a refinery platform in Antwerp, Belgium. Set to be operational by the end of 2027, the project will provide TotalEnergies with 15,000 tons of green hydrogen annually, reducing 150,000 tons of carbon emissions at the plant.
Air Liquide’s statement noted that the electrolyzer technology used in both projects was developed in partnership with Siemens Energy. The Elygator electrolyzer, which Air Liquide operates, has a total capacity of 250 MW. The green hydrogen produced will also be supplied to European manufacturers and heavy vehicle industries.
TotalEnergies and Air Liquide will jointly invest in two green hydrogen development projects in the Netherlands. (Image: TotalEnergies)
Green hydrogen: Key to decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries
Vincent Stoquart, President of TotalEnergies’ Refining and Chemicals, emphasized that this is not the companies' first green hydrogen collaboration. "By supplying these two electrolyzers with renewable electricity from our offshore wind project in the Netherlands, TotalEnergies is leveraging its positioning as an integrated electricity company."
As part of the hard-to-abate sector, TotalEnergies' European refineries emit approximately 3 million tons of CO2 annually. In recent years, the company has been actively adopting low-carbon hydrogen to reduce emissions. It has signed green hydrogen supply contracts in France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, with an annual production capacity of over 170,000 tons.
According to data from energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie, the refining industry is a major consumer of hydrogen, accounting for over 30% of global hydrogen demand. With the global decarbonization trend, low-carbon hydrogen demand in the refining industry is expected to grow by more than 50% by 2050, reaching 50 million tons annually, potentially reducing carbon emissions by up to 35%.
Source: Total Energies, Air Liquide, Wood Mackenzie
