Energy giants Equinor and RWE have joined the NortH2 project in addition to the existing partners which includes the energy company Shell, the gas network operator Gasunie and the port of Groningen Seaports. The project was launched in February 2020 to produce green hydrogen from offshore wind. It aims to develop 4 GW of integrated offshore-wind-to-green-hydrogen value chain by 2030, and 10+ GW by 2040. The central idea is to create a centre for green hydrogen for north-western Europe, based in Northern Netherlands.
Through this project the partners aim to achieve roughly 0.4 million tonnes of green hydrogen production by 2030 and 1 million tonnes green hydrogen production by 2040. This can abate 8 to 10 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. The partners will collaborate on establishing a system of offshore wind farms, electrolysers, gas storage and pipelines in order to convert offshore wind power into green hydrogen, store it and transport it to industrial clusters in north-western Europe. The project will complete a feasibility study by 2021, with the aim to start project development activities in the second half of 2021.
Northwest Europe is well positioned to develop an integrated hydrogen value chain. The North Sea has a vast potential for development of offshore wind capacity. In addition, the extensive existing natural gas infrastructure can be used for storage and large-scale transport of hydrogen. Moreover, this green hydrogen can then be supplied to large industrial clusters in the Netherlands and Germany. It is expected that this project can make an important contribution to meet the EU climate targets for 2030.