Eoly (part of Colruyt Group), Parkwind and Fluxys revealed plans to build an installation in Zeebrugge, Belgium, to convert renewable electricity into green hydrogen on an industrial scale. The feasibility study for the project turned out positive and the consortium is issuing a call for tenders for its construction. The partners aim to take a final investment decision after the summer.
This development comes as the companies announced a partnership in 2018 to boost the sustainability of the energy landscape in Belgium.
This would be the first installation of such scale in Belgium. Under the partnership, Zeebrugge would act as an energy hub, also having the potential as a logistics hub for hydrogen applications.
As a result, the price of renewable hydrogen could drop, which in turn could boost the applications that make use of this green hydrogen.
With the green energy project Hyoffwind, the partners want to build a power-to-gas installation to convert renewable electricity into green hydrogen through electrolysis.
Hyoffwind has been set up as an industrial-scale installation (electrolysis of 25 MW of electricity), in line with the industrial projects that are being developed in neighbouring countries.
In a first phase, with the support of the Federal Energy Transition Fund, the feasibility of the installation was further investigated – and the outcome is positive.
With their present call, the consortium is taking the next step and is tendering with various external parties to develop the project into reality.
Based on the current planning, the first production is planned for early 2023.
In order to meet the future demand for green hydrogen it is necessary to start now with the creation of the necessary conditions to create a positive business case for large-scale hydrogen plants. Therefore, the development of the renewable hydrogen economy needs to start now,
…Stephan Windels, Business Unit Manager of Eoly states.
Green hydrogen can be transported and stored in the existing natural gas infrastructure, which, in the future, could enable the seasonal storage of renewable energy.
At the same time, natural gas as energy for heating, mobility and industry will become more carbon efficient and thus more sustainable.
In addition, green hydrogen can also be used as a carbon-free energy or raw material on its own, in mobility, logistics and industrial processes, for example in the chemical or steel industry.
