TotalEnergies and Air Liquide Partner to Develop Offshore Wind-Powered Green Hydrogen Projects
French energy major TotalEnergies and compatriot industrial gas supplier Air Liquide have signed agreements to develop projects for offshore wind-powered production and delivery of green hydrogen. The collaboration aims to significantly reduce CO2 emissions and contribute to European renewable energy targets in transport.
Project Details
The agreements include two projects for the production of approximately 45,000 tons per year of green hydrogen using renewable power, primarily sourced from the OranjeWind offshore wind farm, a joint development by TotalEnergies and RWE. These initiatives are expected to play a crucial role in cutting CO2 emissions from TotalEnergies’ refineries in Belgium and the Netherlands by up to 450,000 tons annually.
Joint Ventures and Electrolyzer Installations
Under the first agreement, TotalEnergies and Air Liquide will establish a joint venture to construct and operate a 250 MW electrolyzer near the Zeeland refinery in the Netherlands. This facility is projected to produce up to 30,000 tons of green hydrogen per year, with a significant portion allocated for supply to Zeeland’s platform. The electrolyzer is scheduled to be operational by 2029, reducing the site’s CO2 emissions by up to 300,000 tons annually, representing a total investment of around €600 million.
In addition, TotalEnergies has signed a tolling agreement with Air Liquide for 130 MW of the latter’s 200 MW ELYgator electrolyzer project in Maasvlakte, the Netherlands. This arrangement will dedicate 15,000 tons per year of green hydrogen production for TotalEnergies’ platform in Antwerp, Belgium. The project is set to commence operations by the end of 2027, aiming to decrease CO2 emissions at the Antwerp site by up to 150,000 tons per year.
Decarbonization Efforts
TotalEnergies is committed to leveraging low-carbon hydrogen to decarbonize its European refineries, with a goal of reducing annual CO2 emissions by approximately three million tons by 2030. The company has already secured contracts for over 170,000 tons of green hydrogen annually at various facilities across Europe.
Industry Impact
Emilie Mouren-Renouard, Member of Air Liquide Executive Committee, emphasized the importance of flagship projects like these in reducing emissions, particularly in challenging sectors such as industry and heavy mobility. These initiatives showcase Air Liquide’s commitment to renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production, supporting TotalEnergies in their journey towards decarbonizing industrial assets and contributing to Europe’s decarbonization goals.
Overall, the partnership between TotalEnergies and Air Liquide signifies a significant step towards sustainable energy production and emissions reduction, highlighting the potential of offshore wind-powered green hydrogen projects in driving positive environmental impact.