Green hydrogen poised to be a cost-effective renewable energy source
Nouryon, formerly known as AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals, Tata Steel and the Port of Amsterdam have collaborated to study the viability of a large green hydrogen cluster in Amsterdam.
The three companies have a shared consensus in the importance of green hydrogen for reaching climate targets and building a more circular economy.
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The beginning of the study will examine the feasibility of a 100 megawatt water electrolysis facility to produce up to 15,000 tons of hydrogen per year as well as oxygen at Tata Steel’s IJmuiden site, near Amsterdam. Through renewable electricity, the initial unit approximates carbon saving of up to 350,000 tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to the emissions of more than 40,000 households. A final investment decision is expected in 2021.
Nouryon will operate the facility, while Tata Steel will use the oxygen to further enhance the sustainability of its production processes. The parties will explore different routes to use hydrogen for turning steel mill emissions into useful chemicals and products. The Port of Amsterdam will focus on the infrastructure for further distribution of green hydrogen, which will be the basis for the development of new industries and zero-emission transport in the Amsterdam area.
“This partnership builds on our existing initiatives to support the development of a sustainable chemical industry,” said Knut Schwalenberg, Managing Director Industrial Chemicals at Nouryon.
“Green hydrogen is a realistic alternative for fossil-based raw materials and enables new forms of green chemistry, such as using steel mill gas, CO2, or waste to make plastics and move to new, circular value chains,” he added.
This project could be a stepping stone to make large quantities of affordable hydrogen available in the future to enable us to become a CO2 neutral steel producer,”said Hans Fischer, CEO of Tata Steel Europe.
Koen Overtoom, CEO Port of Amsterdam, went on to add that large-scale production of green hydrogen, fueled by offshore wind, will enable the Amsterdam-North Sea canal region to make a leap forward towards a climate neutral circular industry.
“It will support our ambition towards synthetic fuels and synthetic kerosene and emission-free mobility,” he added.
Recently the Netherlands passed a Dutch Climate Law that sets a CO2 reduction target of 49% by 2030. The companies believe that green hydrogen will be able to make a significant contribution towards this target.