Netherlands plans world’s largest offshore hydrogen production site

The project, which is said to mark the first application of offshore hydrogen production on a large scale, is planned to have 500 MW of electrolysis capacity and be operational around 2031.

A wind farm off the shore of Groningen provinceat Ten noorden van de Waddeneilanden was already planned, and an existing natural gas pipeline in proximity could be reused for taking the generated green hydrogen to land.

“We have already designated the area as a preferred location so that preparations can start quickly, and we provide the sector with clarity so that they can make their investment plans. I am also very happy with the support we receive from local authorities. The province and the municipalities are fully committed to a green economy in which the production of sustainable energy is central”, said the Dutch Minister for Climate and Energy Policy, Rob Jetten.

The Ten noorden van de Waddeneilanden green hydrogen project will be the first that connects to Gasunie’s offshore hydrogen transport network, planned to be built to bring large quantities of hydrogen ashore and to connect to the onshore hydrogen network.

As a steppingstone to the 500 MW offshore green hydrogen project, the Dutch government will develop a smaller, pilot project with an electrolysis capacity of between 50 MW and 100 MW. The pilot will serve to test and modify the technology so that the large-scale project can be realised efficiently.

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The location for the pilot project will be chosen later this year.

Ten noorden van de Waddeneilanden is one of the areas the government of the Netherlands identified last year for new offshore wind farms, which could bring up to 13.4 GW of combined capacity across nine sites.

The Ten noorden van de Waddeneilanden site, marked as having a potential capacity of 700 MW, will be auctioned off in 2026 or 2027, with a commissioning year set as 2031.