30-01-2025

Evonik and VoltH2 forge long-term partnership to pioneer green hydrogen in Delfzijl

Evonik has signed a term sheet with Dutch company VoltH2 to advance green hydrogen production at the Delfzijl chemical park. According to the agreement, VoltH2 will construct a 50 MW electrolyzer near Evonik’s hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) plant. Evonik will then source a significant portion of its hydrogen demand from the electrolyzer, which will start operations at the end of 2027. The facility will be the first green hydrogen water electrolysis plant at an industrial scale in the North of the Netherlands.

For the interim, Evonik’s remaining hydrogen needs will continue to be provided by its own conventional on-site hydrogen production. This solution will ensure uninterrupted supply until green hydrogen capacity grows to fully cover demand at all times. VoltH2 will also construct a tube trailer filling station on Evonik’s premises. The hydrogen in tube trailers will be made available to VoltH2’s other customers around the clock.

The collaboration aims not only to forward Evonik’s own sustainability agenda, but also to form, together with VoltH2, the nucleus of a wider hydrogen network at this important industrial hub.

Evonik Peroxide Netherlands Managing Director Peter Metten explains: “We want to switch our production over entirely to renewable resources. By introducing green hydrogen at the Delfzijl plant, we are taking a significant step toward this goal.

That’s because producing H2O2 requires three critical resources: electricity, steam, and hydrogen. Finding sustainable solutions for the first two is more straightforward. Sourcing green hydrogen is the tricky part. Fortunately, we have found in VoltH2 a partner that has the local resources, technical know-how, and vision to optimally collaborate on a cleaner, greener industry.”

André Jurres, VoltH2 Founder and Managing Director, emphasizes the importance of Delfzijl’s unique position in the emerging green hydrogen economy: “Thanks to this systems-integrated approach, large industrial companies like Evonik are demonstrating how to optimize the use of sustainable electricity and its natural allies, such as green hydrogen production. The long-term commitment of Evonik and VoltH2 shows the feasibility of achieving significant carbon emission reductions on a large scale in the coming years."

“This is an example of how collaboration is the key to sustainable transformation,” adds Christoph Batz-Sohn, Director of Sustainable Transformation at Evonik’s Active Oxygens business line. “A greener future will require the combined expertise and commitment of players across sectors and industries. Ideally, this joint initiative with VoltH2 will set an example for further such partnerships at our other production sites around the globe.”

The Active Oxygens business line has already implemented widereaching measures to slash emissions from its footprint. By the end of 2024, for example, 90% of the electricity used in its production was sourced from renewables. Options to construct a large heat pump at Delfzijl for steam generation are currently being explored. The business line is also pursuing solutions for green hydrogen at a number of its sites.

Learn more about Evonik Active Oxygens’ sustainability strategy here.

Learn about how VoltH2 aims to expand the uptake of green hydrogen here.