Shell picks main automation contractor for renewable hydrogen plant in Rotterdam

September 26, 2022, by Ajsa Habibic

Oil and gas major Shell has selected Japanese electrical engineering and software company Yokogawa Electric Corporation as the main automation contractor for the construction of its Holland Hydrogen I plant in the Dutch port of Rotterdam.

Illustration of the proposed Holland Hydrogen I site (Source: Shell)

The plant will produce renewable hydrogen by using electricity from offshore wind farm Hollandse Kust Noord and is expected to be Europe’s largest renewable hydrogen plant once operational in 2025.

As the main automation contractor, Yokogawa will optimize operations at the plant by closely integrating its systems and equipment.

Koji Nakaoka, Yokogawa vice president and head of the company’s Energy & Sustainability Business Headquarters and Global Sales Headquarters, said: “Our company aims to play a leading role in achieving a world in which systems are closely integrated, based on the system of systems (SoS) concept. In the hydrogen supply chain, there are individual systems for functions such as production, pipeline transport, storage, and supply, each of which is owned by a different entity.

“Through participation in projects that help our customers achieve progress in their decarbonisation strategies and add value to their enterprises, Yokogawa will continue working to realize a sustainable society.”

The Holland Hydrogen I plant will have a 200 megawatts (MW) electrolyser that will produce up to 60,000 kilograms of green hydrogen per day.

The green hydrogen produced at this plant will be transported via HyTransPort pipeline to the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rotterdam, where it will replace some of the grey hydrogen used in the refinery, partially decarbonising the facility’s production of energy products like gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.