The Netherlands could host the world’s first large electrolyser powered by offshore wind for hydrogen production

The Netherlands could launch the first-ever auction early next year to support the construction of an electrolyser producing green hydrogen, powered exclusively by electricity from offshore wind farms. A pilot project is expected to first assess the feasibility of building a 500MW electrolyser, with the government set to announce its location later this year.

Green hydrogen production has become an increasingly prominent issue in Europe in recent years, not only because of the need to address seasonal storage for renewable energy, but also because of efforts to curb emissions from industrial processes. The Dutch government is preparing an ambitious project that would combine green hydrogen production with offshore wind farms.

According to the news website Montel, the government has chosen the Ten noorden van de Waddeneilanden site for the project, which had already been selected for an offshore wind farm. The wind farm would now supply a 500MW electrolyser, with the hydrogen transported to shore through existing gas infrastructure. Under the government's current plans, green hydrogen production at the project is expected to begin in 2031.