Virya Energy, HyoffGreen and Messer announce Final Investment Decision for 25MW renewable hydrogen plant in Zeebrugge, paving the way for sustainable mobility and industry.
Virya Energy, in partnership with HyoffGreen and Messer, have reached the final investment decision for the Hyoffwind project in Zeebrugge, Belgium. This was the final validation before launching the construction of the first 25MW renewable hydrogen production plant in the country, with the first molecules expected to be produced in 2026. It will contribute with 25.000 tons of CO2 reduction per year in the segments of mobility and industry.
Collaboration across the energy value chain
The Hyoffwind project is led by a pioneer consortium that spans the entire energy value chain. Hyoffgreen and Messer enter the project as partners jointly with Virya Energy, following the appointment of John Cockerill and Besix as EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) partners announced earlier this year. This consortium, united by a shared vision on sustainability, brings extensive energy and industrial expertise to the project, ranging from renewable energy capture over to production and distribution of green hydrogen for mobility and industrial end applications.
Expanding Messer’s green hydrogen network
As the world’s largest privately owned industrial gases specialist, Messer has extensive experience in the production, logistics and delivery of hydrogen. Messer offers a well-developed network of H2 sources around the world, which is being systematically expanded to ensure a reliable supply to its customers.
For Messer, hydrogen plays an important role in terms of a sustainable, green future, green mobility and the decarbonization of its customers’ production processes. That’s why Messer is using its experience and its technological expertise in an energetic, targeted and, above all, climate-neutral manner.
By entering into this partnership in the Benelux, Messer is responding to an important demand for the installation, support and supply of green hydrogen infrastructures for its customers, who are at the beginning of this important and necessary energy transition.
Pioneering Belgium’s renewable energy economy
Renewable hydrogen is a pivotal element in advancing a renewable energy economy, serving as both a raw material or energy input for industrial processes and a versatile resource for various heavy duty mobility applications. Hyoffwind will enhance the flexibility and stability of the Belgian energy system, contributing as part of the solution to the challenges posed by the variability of renewable electricity production. Furthermore, Hyoffwind, located in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, will become a strategic component of the future hydrogen network connecting production sites and industrial zones in North-West Europe.
The contribution of renewable hydrogen to the energy transition and its role in the hydrogen economy is underpinned by a 30 million subsidy awarded earlier this year by the Flemish government, using recovery funding from the European Union (NextGenerationEU) and from the Flemish government.
Hyoffwind is a huge step forward fostering the emergence of hydrogen ecosystems in the Benelux, bringing the EU one step closer to a climate neutrality.
A strategic location
The plant, upon completion, will feature an initial capacity of 25MW, with potential for future expansion up to 100 MW. Zeebrugge, chosen for its strategic location, is well connected to all relevant energy networks and is as such the ideal location to realize the sector coupling.
Paul Tummers, CEO of Virya Energy explained:
Hyoffwind exemplifies our belief in hydrogen’s transformative power and its role in our fit-for-purpose energy approach.
“It is a demonstration of our ability to develop complex projects at the forefront of the energy transition. The project, driven by strong complementary partnerships, marks a significant step towards a more resilient sustainable energy future for Belgium and creates a promising outlook for the hydrogen industry.”
Virginia Esly, CEO Europe at Messer, said:
This partnership demonstrates Messer’s commitment to a cleaner, greener future and is an important milestone in our strategy.
“Investing in green hydrogen is not just an environmental decision, it’s a blueprint for a sustainable future. At Messer, we are focused on developing technologies that make our customers’ production processes environmentally friendly, more efficient, and safer. Messer Benelux will extend the benefits of these applications to our industrial customers who are switching to green hydrogen for their production. We are proud to be at the front line in innovation and sustainability”,
Ludo Kelchtermans, co-CEO of VEH:
Investing in a green hydrogen project represents our strategic commitment to a sustainable energy future.
“By harnessing the power of our wind farms to produce hydrogen, we are positioning ourselves at the forefront of the emerging hydrogen economy.”
Jo Brouns, Flemish minister of Economy, Innovation, Work, Social Economy and Agriculture:
I am extremely pleased that the Hyoffwind consortium has made a final investment decision and that the realization of a sustainable hydrogen plant in Zeebrugge will soon begin.
“With Hyoffwind, we are taking on our pioneering role in hydrogen in Flanders. Besides energy conservation and electrification, hydrogen plays an important role in the sustainability of industry and transport. Although we will need both locally produced and imported hydrogen in Flanders, this project is important for building the necessary expertise so that we can also construct such hydrogen plants abroad.”
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Virya Energy, HyoffGreen and Messer announce Final Investment Decision for 25MW renewable hydrogen plant in Zeebrugge, paving the way for sustainable mobility and industry. source
