Europe's green hydrogen revolution: three promising projects, but also fierce criticism
We look back at some groundbreaking developments around green hydrogen in Europe this year. But there are also challenges.
Published on December 25, 2024
Everything new is wildly interesting! That's the motto of our DATA+ expert, Elcke Vels. She writes stories about AI and how it affects our society, has a series on cyber security, and interviews Dutch innovation maestros. In her “What if...” column, she also explores intriguing scenarios that deviate from the status quo.
IO+ closely followed key developments in hydrogen in 2024. Despite major challenges, several promising green hydrogen projects progressed in Europe. In this overview, we highlight three high-profile initiatives from the Netherlands, Germany, and France.
Netherlands: flagship of European hydrogen production in Rotterdam
The flagship of European hydrogen production is currently rising on the Second Maasvlakte in Rotterdam. With an investment of 1 billion euros, Shell is building here the Holland Hydrogen I, the largest green hydrogen plant in Europe. The plant will produce 60,000 kilograms of renewable hydrogen daily with an electrolysis capacity of 200 MW. The hydrogen will be produced with electricity from the Hollandse Kust (north) offshore wind farm.
It was announced this year that Shell and TenneT have signed an agreement to connect the first large-scale hydrogen plant to the high-voltage grid. Because there is insufficient capacity at the current high-voltage substations, TenneT is building the new Amaliahaven substation. This temporary solution will allow Shell to start hydrogen production earlier while work on the final infrastructure is underway.
Germany: a Cologne hydrogen plant
In Germany this year, Shell made a final investment decision to build a large hydrogen plant in Cologne. The facility, equipped with a 100-megawatt electrolyzer, is to be operational by 2027. Although smaller than the Dutch project, this plant is an important part of Germany's energy transition. Its strategic location in the industrial heart of Germany enables efficient distribution.
France: 'Le Havre' as hydrogen hub for domestic transport
France is also making great strides in the hydrogen economy with an impressive project. It was announced earlier this year that it is coming to the port of Le Havre. American industrial gas company Air Products is investing €1.1 billion in a renewable hydrogen import hub here. This facility will focus specifically on importing ammonia, which can then be converted into hydrogen for domestic transportation. In parallel, French company Qair is investing €500 million in an e-methanol plant at the same location. This combined investment of €1.6 billion makes Le Havre a crucial player in the European hydrogen economy.
Strong criticism from the European Court of Auditors
So while promising initiatives are taking place, not everything is positive when it comes to hydrogen in Europe. The European Court of Auditors earlier this year strongly criticized EU policy on sustainable hydrogen production. According to the auditors, the 2030 targets are unsubstantiated and unrealistic. In 2020, the European Commission set ambitious goals: by 2030, the EU would produce 10 million tons of green hydrogen and import another 10 million tons. However, these figures seem more driven by political ambitions than thorough research.
The Court points out that many EU member states are lagging behind and that their joint plans are insufficient to meet the targets. Moreover, a coherent strategy for hydrogen imports is lacking, which further calls into question the feasibility of the plans.
Netherlands in top 5
Industrial companies that want to become more sustainable find green hydrogen too expensive, making them reluctant to enter into long-term contracts. This hinders the development of hydrogen plants, including in the Netherlands. Yet the European Court of Auditors considers the Netherlands one of the five frontrunners in hydrogen. After Spain, the Netherlands has the largest number of hydrogen projects in preparation, although many are still in the early stages. Germany and Sweden lead the way in this regard with projects already more advanced.
'Power transmission rates must come down if we want to be hydrogen country'
VoltH2, like other hydrogen producers in the Netherlands, faces a number of challenges, including high tariffs for electricity transmission.