Air Liquide and TotalEnergies have partnered for two large-scale electrolyser projects, aimed at advancing the decarbonisation of European industry and transport. The initiatives are expected to significantly reduce carbon emissions while expanding the region’s renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production capacity.
The first project, ELYgator, will involve the construction of a 200MW electrolyser in Maasvlakte, Rotterdam, designed to produce up to 23,000 tonnes of hydrogen annually. The facility will supply TotalEnergies’ industrial platform as well as other industrial and heavy-duty mobility sectors in the Netherlands and Belgium via Air Liquide’s hydrogen pipeline network. The project, supported by the EU Innovation Fund and the Dutch IPCEI programme, is expected to be operational by late 2027. Renewable electricity will be sourced from TotalEnergies’ share of the OranjeWind wind farm and Vattenfall’s Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm.
In addition, Air Liquide and TotalEnergies have formed a 50/50 joint venture to develop a 250MW electrolyser in Zeeland, Netherlands, with a projected annual production of 30,000 tonnes of hydrogen. Powered by renewable energy from OranjeWind, the project aims to support the decarbonisation of TotalEnergies’ Zeeland refinery. Subject to final approvals and investment decisions, the facility is scheduled for completion in 2029.
The combined investment for both projects exceeds €1 billion ($1.05 billion) and is projected to reduce CO₂-equivalent emissions by up to 500,000 tonnes per year. Air Liquide will utilise electrolyser technology from its joint venture with Siemens Energy to develop the plants.
Emilie Mouren-Renouard, member of Air Liquide’s Executive Committee responsible for European operations, described the projects as pivotal in addressing emissions in hard-to-abate sectors, stating that they will play a key role in reducing industrial emissions and further Air Liquide’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Vincent Stoquart, President of Refining & Chemicals at TotalEnergies, said the partnership marks a significant step in the company’s ambition to decarbonise hydrogen use in its European refineries by 2030. He added that by powering these electrolysers with renewable electricity from offshore wind, TotalEnergies is strengthening its position as an integrated electricity provider.
The ELYgator project has received support from the EU Innovation Fund and the Dutch IPCEI Hydrogen programme, both of which facilitate investment in large-scale renewable hydrogen production across Europe.
