In Belgium, in the port of Antwerp-Bruges, the manufacturer of electrolyzers Plug Power from the United States in 2025 will launch a plant to produce 12,500 tons of green hydrogen annually and a capacity of 100 MW.
The plant is likely to become one of the largest in Northern Europe and the port's foreground to become a hydrogen hub for Europe, according to Recharge NVS.
Plug Power noted that the plant is located in the center of the largest cluster of the chemical industry in Europe and will provide several customers.
H2 will also help decarbonise the port's "logistics flow" by fueling fuel cells to be used by forklifts and other lifts, fuel cell vans through a joint venture with Renault, and stationary capacity.
The plant will be supplied with energy from the grid, which is supplied to the port and nearby wind turbines.
The article explained that any green hydrogen plant that receives electricity from the grid will be required to take into account the hourly operation of the cell before consuming electricity from a special plant from renewable sources, according to a strict draft EU regulation on additionality. Otherwise, the station will be deprived of the status of "renewable hydrogen".
The plant is trying to develop a circular plan for the use of water used in electrolyzers.
"The Plug Power project is exactly what we mean when it comes to the circular economy. We provide hydrogen with every opportunity as an energy and fuel, and therefore we are committed to being an active pioneer in the hydrogen economy," said Jacques. Vandermeiren, CEO of the port of Antwerp-Bruges.
Plug Power also intends to build a dedicated open access hydrogen pipeline along the site and has agreed to work with Belgian gas pipeline operator Fluxys on a feasibility study to consider connecting to the pipeline under the proposed European Hydrogen Line.
Construction will begin in 2023, and the first hydrogen is planned for early 2024. The project is likely to be one of the largest in Northern Europe. However, across the continent, it can be overshadowed by the size of a number of Iberian projects.
The port of Antwerp-Bruges is located in one of the most industrialized regions of Northern Europe. It is trying to become a center of hydrogen through a combination of local production and imports, and local authorities want to use the project as a launching pad for the region's ambitions.
"Thanks to the strategic location of our ports and the experience of our companies, research centers and educational institutions, we have every opportunity to become the hydrogen hub of Western Europe - an opportunity we must not miss," said Flanders Prime Minister Jan Jambon.
The report said that the region did not have enough renewables to get all the green hydrogen Belgium needed to meet its 80% emissions reduction target by 2050, and blue hydrogen could be a stepping stone to that goal.
So the chemical giant Ineos is developing a steam cracker to produce olefins in the port, which will be designed to run on green water at the first available in sufficient quantities, and until then it will use blue.
We will remind, in Ukraine at the Dnieper HPP are planned produce "green" hydrogen.
As EcoPoliticа reported earlier, in the US will spend $ 8 billion on centers of pure hydrogen.
