Air Liquide has made a final investment decision to proceed with the construction of ELYgator, a 200 MW renewable hydrogen electrolyser in the Port of Rotterdam, marking a significant milestone in Europe’s low-carbon industrial transition.
The €500 million ($587 million) project, announced earlier this year, is backed by the Dutch government’s OWE subsidy scheme and builds on previous funding from the European Innovation Fund and the Dutch Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) programme. The financial and regulatory support played a crucial role in advancing the initiative, the company said.
Located in Maasvlakte, the ELYgator facility is expected to produce 23,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually, with operations slated to begin by the end of 2027. The hydrogen will serve both industrial clients and heavy-duty mobility operators, including TotalEnergies’ local platform, under a long-term supply agreement. The project is anticipated to cut up to 300,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year once fully operational.
In a first for Europe, the electrolyser will integrate both Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) and Alkaline technologies on a single site, showcasing a hybrid approach to hydrogen production that could pave the way for broader industry applications.
“This investment decision is an important milestone and demonstrates our commitment to renewable hydrogen development,” said Emilie Mouren-Renouard, member of Air Liquide’s Group Executive Committee overseeing European operations. “ELYgator illustrates our drive to develop concrete technologies and solutions that directly contribute to Europe’s ambitions towards climate neutrality by 2050.”
The decision comes as the European Union doubles down on efforts to meet its climate targets, with hydrogen seen as a key enabler in reducing emissions from hard-to-abate sectors such as chemicals, steel, and transport.
