VoltH2 will use €20 million to establish the necessary 150 kV connections for two green hydrogen plants, located in Terneuzen and Vlissingen. André Jurres, CEO of VoltH2, explains: “Each of our two plants will produce around 2,000 tons of green hydrogen annually from 2026 onwards, avoiding around 17 kilotons of CO₂ emissions. This will make VoltH2 the first company in the region to contribute to the emission reduction targets of Smart Delta Resources, the partnership of industry in the South-West Netherlands within the Hydrogen Delta program. In the second phase, starting in 2028, we will expand from 25 MW to 125 MW, producing 10,000 tons of green hydrogen annually and saving approximately 85 kilotons of CO₂.”
The green hydrogen plants will also aid in alleviating grid congestion and balancing the Dutch electricity grid. By operating on green power sourced from windmills or solar farms, the plants will consume energy only when it is sustainably generated. This strategy is instrumental in moderating production peaks on the power grid, peaks that are expected to rise with the increased generation of renewable energy.
A critical requirement for green hydrogen production is an electricity connection with sufficient capacity. The Just Transition Fund is providing support for the realization of two 150 kV connections with substations. In Vlissingen, the costs are substantial due to the long distance to the high-voltage substation and the drilling needed to cross dikes, roads, railroads, and other infrastructure. In Terneuzen, the challenge is crossing the Ghent-Terneuzen canal, as the hydrogen plant and the existing high-voltage station are on opposite sides. A significant benefit is that some smaller companies near VoltH2 will also gain easier access to this connection.
The basic design of the 150 kV fields, the concept design of the cable connections, and the 150 and 30 kV substations are currently in preparation. These connections are expected to be operational by early 2026, serving both VoltH2’s hydrogen plants and facilitating connections for third parties.