About
The project plays a key role in the Port of Rotterdam Authority's hydrogen vision and in making bp Refinery Rotterdam and other high-emission industries more sustainable.
The H2-Fifty project brings together leaders in their respective fields – integrated energy company bp and green hydrogen solutions provider HyCC – who share a powerful joint goal: to lower harmful emissions and provide a pathway to more sustainable fuels. To achieve this, the H2-Fifty project partners intend to jointly develop and operate a water electrolysis plant to produce green hydrogen in the Port of Rotterdam.
Project Vision
Supplied by renewable power sources, the planned electrolyser will have a 250-megawatt (MW) capacity and be capable of producing up to 20,000 - 30,000 tonnes per year of hydrogen.
H2-Fifty will be large enough to replace all of the grey hydrogen imported today by the bp Rotterdam Refinery as feedstock (which otherwise would be produced by fossil fuels – specifically combustion of natural gas in a steam methane reformer). By doing so, carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by up to 270,000 tonnes per year providing an important contribution to bp's net zero ambition, purpose and aims.
H2-Fifty will also make green hydrogen available for other demand uses, providing heat and low carbon feedstock to some of the hardest to decarbonise industrial sectors. Hydrogen from H2-Fifty will also be available to supply the fuels and heavy mobility sector – a leading source of emissions in Europe today. For example, green hydrogen could be supplied directly to fuel cell vehicles or can serve as a feedstock for synthetic sustainable e-fuel production thereby also enabling decarbonisation of the shipping and aviation sectors. Oxygen and residual heat produced by H2-Fifty can also be supplied to local businesses in the port.
Location
H2-Fifty will be constructed in the Conversion Park at Maasvlakte 2 in the Port of Rotterdam. The location provides access to reliable networks for power and other utilities available within the port, as well as extensive logistical capabilities to supply local, national and potentially global markets.
Distribution
It is envisaged that hydrogen from H2-Fifty will utilise the open access hydrogen pipeline being developed by Hynetwork Services (a 100% subsidiary of N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie). This will provide connection to the planned Dutch hydrogen backbone and hydrogen storage facilities, giving customers across the Netherlands and Europe access to hydrogen from H2-Fifty.
Support
Due to its importance for the development of hydrogen technology and reduction of CO2 emissions, the H2-Fifty project is supported by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (Topsector Energiesubsidie).
The project has also been granted IPCEI status by the European Commission in September 2022.