Flemish Expertise Centres Join Forces with Industry to Push Green Hydrogen Production forward

June 02, 2021

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(Electric Energy Online/DEME) Flemish research centres imec and VITO (both partners in EnergyVille), together with industrial pioneers Bekaert, Colruyt Group, DEME and John Cockerill announced today (May 28) that they are joining forces to invest in the production of green hydrogen. Under the flag of Hyve, the consortium aims at a cost-efficient and sustainable production of hydrogen at gigawatt level. Hyve will put the Flemish region in the driver seat for the deployment of a hydrogen economy and the transition towards a carbon neutral industry in Europe.

The EU's commitment to reaching climate neutrality by 2050, as part of Europe's Green Deal, will only be reached when we drastically transform our energy system. Within the Green Deal, hydrogen technology is considered essential in the energy transition towards a carbon neutral society. Especially in the chemical industry, the steel and cement industry, and in heavy duty transport, green hydrogen is considered key in decarbonisation. Today, the chemical industry depends on grey hydrogen, produced by steam reforming. Unfortunately, this process involves the emission of large quantities of CO2. Green hydrogen, on the other hand, is produced through the electrolysis of water using renewable energy. To make green hydrogen competitive, the price of green electricity should further decrease, electrolysers should be made more cost-efficient and the economy of scale should do its trick lowering the production costs.

The Hyve consortium brings together players across the value chain to achieve this ambitious goal, merging expertise in developing new components for electrolysis, with material suppliers, integration companies that will integrate the new components into their electrolysers, and companies that will use this innovative infrastructure to generate green hydrogen.

Flemish research centres imec and VITO (both partners in EnergyVille) will leverage their knowledge to boost the efficiency of the electrolysis-technology. Imec's expertise in solid state electrolytes, electrode surfaces, and process technology at nanoscale is combined with VITO's expertise in membranes, catalysis, and system integration. Bekaert, supplier of Metallic Porous Transport Layers for electrolysis, will supply the appropriate materials. John Cockerill, world leader in the production of alkaline electrolysers, will integrate the results into its production. DEME, worldwide leader in dredging and offshore energy services, aims at using the novel electrolysers to convert wind and solar energy into green hydrogen and derived green products ('e-fuels'). Through the HYPORT®'-concept, DEME aims to import cheap green hydrogen products into Europe, complementary to local European production. Retailer Colruyt Group will support research applications for sustainable transport. Colruyt Group is already running a hydrogen filling station, testing hydrogen-powered forklifts as well as the first heavy-duty trucks, collaborating on a green hydrogen plant in Zeebrugge through the energy holding company Virya Energy and is exploring e-fuels via Dats24.

"Colruyt Group has been producing its own green hydrogen for about ten years. Three years ago we opened the very first fully integrated public hydrogen filling station in Europe. In the coming months, four more public hydrogen filling stations will be equipped. Recently, our group put the first 44-ton hydrogen-powered electric heavy-duty truck in Europe on the roads. We clearly belief in hydrogen technology as a promising zero-emission solution for transport and logistics and are committed to invest in innovative hydrogen applications. We are convinced that with our partners in a strategic cooperation for the development of a new promising hydrogen electrolysis component, we can take important steps towards a more sustainable mobility and energy supply", says Jef Colruyt, CEO at Colruyt Group.

"In line with its vision to provide solutions for a sustainable future, DEME is proud to participate in Hyve, a project in which partners along the value chain jointly develop a novel green hydrogen technology. This initiative complements and reinforces DEME's ongoing efforts towards solving global challenges, like reduction of CO2 emissions, and is fully aligned with its strategic objectives.," says Luc Vandenbulcke, CEO at DEME Group.

"Bekaert has a commitment to create green and sustainable solutions. Therefore, we look forward to working closely with the consortium partners and develop the building blocks for this electrolysis technology of the future, fully consistent with our better together' aspiration. We are committed to delivering long-term value to all our stakeholders and as such, create sustainable business partnerships. Like the one of this consortium", saysOswald Schmid, CEO at Bekaert.

"John Cockerill is very pleased to partner with renowned research centres and major Belgian industrial players on this innovative project. Thanks to our position as world leader in the manufacture of high-capacity electrolysers and our expertise in the field of hydrogen, we can put our know-how at the service of improving performance to make this project an innovative and iconic success in decarbonising industry", says Jean-Luc Maurange, CEO of the John Cockerill Group.

"Sustainable development is in VITO's DNA. We focus on a systems approach, paying attention to the whole techno-economic value chain. That is the best way to approach the complex problems of the energy transition. We do this together with our EnergyVille partners and with the necessary focus on industrial applicability. Hyve is a striking example of such collaboration and constitutes an important step for the research on green hydrogen in Flanders," says Dirk Fransaer, managing director at VITO.

"As a world-renowned research centre in nanoelectronics and digital technology, we believe that technology is key in realising a sustainable society and we are committed to leverage our expertise to enable this. Our 'power-to-molecules' programme, investigating how CO2 can be converted into valuable molecules for industry, points the way towards a carbon-neutral society", says Luc Van den hove, CEO at imec. "Within Hyve, imec and VITO combine their knowledge and transfer it to an ambitious, large-scale innovation project to make Flanders a frontrunner in green hydrogen." of South Holland) to the crossing with the A2 near Waardenburg (province of Gelderland). The project is one of the top 10 most urgent projects in the Flood Protection Programme.

Yolande van der Meulen, Chair of the Alliance Board: "The next phase starts with the granting of the subsidy for the realisation of the Gorinchem-Waardenburg dyke reinforcement". A good example of close cooperation in an alliance of three market participants, an engineering firm and Water Board Rivierenland. From the start of the exploration, a great deal of knowledge and experience has been combined and used for the purpose of a dynamic implementation. The result is a dyke reinforcement plan in which various interests come together. I am very proud that we have reached this milestone through good cooperation with all parties! And hope to raise a glass with everyone in 2026 to a waterproof dyke."

Cooperation with other authorities delivers results

In order to ensure that the process runs smoothly from plan to design, close cooperation has been sought with the municipalities, provinces and the State. Among other things, this has led to a project plan for water law, which can be viewed online. Furthermore, the strengthening of the dyke offers opportunities for other projects (opportunities to join forces). For example, the development of the flood plains is a result of intensive cooperation between the various authorities.

The environment is also closely involved in the reinforcement of the dyke

In recent years, five working groups from the surrounding area have discussed what they consider important on and around the dyke. They have ensured that their ideas ended up on the agenda of the governments concerned. Not as a wish list, but to discuss opportunities and hurdles together and address them if possible. This cooperation has resulted in an intensive relationship between the residents involved and the Graaf Reinaldalliantie team.

Preparations for implementation are in full swing

In June of this year, the actual groundwork will begin. The work will be carried out in parts. This means that the entire process will not take place at the same time, but the work will be done per dyke section or cluster of dyke sections. During the implementation, the environmental managers will continue to closely involve the immediate environment in the work. In 2026, the dyke must once again be flood-proof.

Gorinchem-Waardenburg Dyke Reinforcement is part of the Flood Protection Programme

In the Flood Protection Programme, the water boards and the Dutch Ministry of Waterways and Public Work are working together on the largest dyke reinforcement operation since the Delta Works. 1,300 kilometres of dykes will be reinforced until 2050. For Water Board Rivierenland it involves about 400 kilometres of dykes in the river area.

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