TotalEnergies has signed agreements with German renewable developer RWE to acquire a 50% stake in OranjeWind, a 795 MW offshore wind farm under development in the Netherlands.
TotalEnergies plans to allocate its portion of the renewable electricity generated by this project to support 350 MW electrolyser projects that will produce approximately 40,000 tons of green hydrogen annually, contributing to the decarbonisation of TotalEnergies’ refineries in Northern Europe.
TotalEnergies plans to decarbonise hydrogen production in its European refineries, targeting a reduction of CO2 emissions by approximately 5 million tons per year by 2030. The company’s share of electricity from OranjeWind will generate green hydrogen via electrolysis, replacing the hydrogen currently used in its refineries and avoiding about 400,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.
The OranjeWind project, located in the North Sea about 53 km off the Dutch coast, was awarded to RWE in 2022 as part of the Dutch Hollandse Kust West VII tender. Then, RWE committed to developing electorlysers to which TotalEnergies will also contribute now. OranjeWind will also support the stability of the Dutch grid through electric boilers and battery storage. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with full commissioning expected in early 2028.
Stephane Michel, President, Gas Renewables & Power, and Bernard Pinatel, President Refining & Chemicals at TotalEnergies, commented on the partnership: “We are delighted to work with RWE, a major player in renewables, on a project that will enable us to develop green hydrogen production, essential for decarbonising our refineries in Northern Europe. This innovative project highlights our pioneering role in the energy transition in Europe.”
Sven Utermöhlen, CEO RWE Offshore Wind said, “The Netherlands is a strategic core market for growing our green portfolio. In TotalEnergies, we have a strong partner with whom we can realise our first offshore wind project in the Netherlands and at the same time unlock the full system integration of OranjeWind. Together, we will provide a blueprint for the Dutch energy system of the future, designed to tackle the challenges of intermittent wind generation and flexible energy demand.”