The electrolyser will be located at Maasvlakte’s conversion park in Rotterdam, where electricity from North Sea wind farms will be used to generate hydrogen.

The ELYgator is scheduled to become operational by the end of 2027 and will produce approximately 23,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year for industrial and heavy transport use.

READ: Port of Rotterdam throughput falls 4.1 per cent in H1 2025

Air Liquide estimates the facility will reduce CO2 emissions by 300,000 tonnes annually.

The plant is the second large-scale electrolyser confirmed for the Maasvlakte conversion park, which has capacity for four such facilities. The investment totals more than €500 million ($586 million).

Air Liquide cited revised hydrogen regulations — specifically the ‘refinery route’ — along with support from the Dutch government and EU subsidies, as key enablers for the project.

Recently, the Port of Rotterdam announced that Rozenburg Lock, used by 20,000 vessels annually, is undergoing a major renovation. From 2027, it will be operated remotely from the Rotterdam Traffic Center, marking a significant shift in port infrastructure management.