Eneco, a leading Netherlands-based producer and supplier of natural gas, electricity, and heat, has recently submitted a planning application for its groundbreaking project, the "Eneco Electrolyzer". This facility represents a significant step towards sustainable energy production, as the plant will utilise electricity generated exclusively from renewable sources to produce green hydrogen.
In collaboration with Mitsubishi, Eneco is leading the project through the Eneco Diamond Hydrogen joint venture, leveraging the strengths of its parent companies. This capitalises on Eneco's expertise in renewable energy and Mitsubishi's operations in oil refining, chemicals, steel, and marine transport. The construction of this state-of-the-art green hydrogen production plant in Rotterdam is set to play a pivotal role in making industrial processes and products more sustainable for Eneco's industrial customers.
The Eneco Electrolyzer is designed to utilise renewable energy sourced from solar parks and wind farms dedicated to the industrial sector. Anticipated to boast an impressive capacity of 800 MW, this groundbreaking facility will have the capability to produce up to 80 kilotons of hydrogen annually. This scale sets it apart as the largest green hydrogen plant in Europe, surpassing the current leading capacity of 200 MW in Denmark.
Traditionally, the industrial sector has relied on natural gas for hydrogen production. However, Eneco's visionary project aims to start a transformative shift, with green hydrogen potentially replacing natural gas as a primary fuel source in both the industrial and electricity sectors.
Eneco is on a mission to make all its customers climate-neutral by 2035, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change. This initiative is also in line with the Netherlands' broader objective to increase green hydrogen production capacity to an impressive 4 gigawatts by 2030.
Construction is slated to commence in 2026, with completion expected in 2029. Once operational, it will not only mark a significant milestone in the transition to sustainable energy but also position itself as the largest green hydrogen production plant in Europe, contributing to the realisation of ambitious environmental goals on a regional and global scale.