Port Of Antwerp-Bruges, Plug Power To Build Green Hydrogen Plant
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges announced a partnership recently with Plug Power, a leading green hydrogen company, to build a large-scale green hydrogen generation plant to support decarbonization efforts at the port.
Plug signed a 30-year concession agreement to build the plant at the Belgian port, the second largest in Europe. Plug plans to erect a 100-megawatt green hydrogen plant, using its own electrolyzer and liquefaction technology, on 28 acres of land leased under the agreement. Plug will produce up to 12,500 tons per year, or 35 tons per day, of liquid and gaseous green hydrogen for the European market.
Construction of the plant will begin upon completion of the permitting process, anticipated to take place in late 2023. Initial production of green hydrogen is expected in late 2024, and plant commissioning will be in 2025.
Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of the port of Antwerp-Bruges, said, “The signing of Plug Power is a confirmation of the attractiveness of our port and NextGen District. Their project is exactly what we have in mind when it comes to circular economy. We are giving hydrogen every opportunity as an energy carrier and fuel and are therefore committing ourselves as an active pioneer in the hydrogen economy. I thank Plug Power for its trust and all parties involved.”
Chemical Industry Cluster
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges sits at the center of the largest chemical industry cluster in Europe and close to the North Sea, providing transportation connections to Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, U.K. and France. The port area is one of the busiest logistics areas in Europe, handling annually 289 million tons of maritime freight, 24 million tons of rail freight and 108.5 million tons of barge freight. Sixty percent of Europe’s purchasing power is located within 300 miles.
Plug said it will contribute to decarbonizing the logistics flows of the port, with material handling solutions, fuel cell vans through HYVIA—a joint venture between Plug and Renault—and stationary power solutions for shore power.
