German energy company Uniper has selected Plug Power, a provider of turnkey hydrogen solutions for the global green hydrogen economy, to design the electrolyser technology for Uniper’s H2Maasvlakte project at the Port of Rotterdam.
Under the agreement, Plug is expected to deliver 10 prefabricated PEM (proton exchange membrane) electrolyser arrays for Uniper’s flagship project, upon Uniper’s positive FID.
Plug’s design for this project is part of the H2Maasvlakte Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study which is currently being performed by Uniper with Technip Energies. This FEED study is supported by Topsector Energie (TSE) subsidies of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate.
Uniper said that the Plug’s electrolyser technology for H2Maasvlakte will be manufactured in the European Union (EU) and the United States (US).
At the Maasvlakte Energy Hub, Uniper said it plans to commission 100 MW of Plug electrolysis capacity to produce green hydrogen by 2026, rapidly expanding that capacity to 500 MW by 2030 at the latest.
Allard Castelein, CEO of Port of Rotterdam, said: “Uniper has embarked on the journey to drastically reduce its emissions. We are very pleased with the steps Uniper is taking. As a port authority we support, stimulate, and help companies in Rotterdam to reach the Paris climate treaty goals in multiple ways, including getting infrastructure like a hydrogen pipeline network in place in time. Projects like Uniper’s help reach climate goals but also contribute to a sound future for companies.”
Axel Wietfeld, CEO of Uniper Hydrogen, added: “Uniper is striving for a carbon-neutral portfolio by 2035. Our flagship project H2Maasvlakte contributes significantly to this. I am pleased that we have found a partner in Plug Power with whom we can realise this ambition at a rapid pace.”
Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug, stated: “The H2Maasvlakte project marks a significant milestone for Europe’s transition to more sustainable, localised energy in response to geopolitical risk and climate change. Plug is fully committed to a green hydrogen future and our electrolyser technology has a proven track record of helping customers produce green hydrogen at scale. Our partnership with Uniper validates Plug’s investment in strengthening our EU presence to bring much-needed energy security to the European market.”