Rotterdam's €1bn Leap Into the Hydrogen Era

Air Liquide and TotalEnergies back €1bn Rotterdam hydrogen push, securing demand and setting a model for Europe's clean energy future

26 Jul 2025

Europe's clean energy drive just picked up speed in Rotterdam. Air Liquide and TotalEnergies are pouring roughly €1 billion into one of the continent's largest renewable hydrogen plants, moving the fuel from small pilots into the center of Europe's industrial playbook.

The project, known as ELYgator, will open in 2027 and produce about 23,000 tons of renewable hydrogen a year. TotalEnergies has locked in a long-term contract for part of the supply, while the rest will flow into Air Liquide's pipeline network, feeding a wider mix of factories and refineries.

Building the plant in Europe's busiest port is no accident. It links offshore wind power directly to heavy industry and sets up a model that other countries could copy. For Air Liquide, the draw is scale and resilience, with twin electrolyzer systems designed to cut costs and boost efficiency.

Policymakers see something more: proof that Europe's subsidy schemes and rules are starting to work. "This project demonstrates that with the right regulatory environment, renewable hydrogen can achieve bankability," said Pascal Vinet, a senior Air Liquide executive.

Analysts call the Rotterdam venture a milestone. Equipment suppliers will have to ramp up quickly, and industries from steel to chemicals gain stronger incentives to adopt hydrogen. The project also nudges Europe closer to its 2030 goal of 40 gigawatts of electrolyzer capacity, though many more investments will be needed.

Hurdles remain, from high upfront costs to the slow rollout of cross-border hydrogen pipelines. Some critics warn that early production will mainly serve large industrial customers, leaving smaller players waiting. Even so, momentum is hard to ignore.

Rotterdam's ELYgator could become the template for how Europe makes, moves, and consumes clean energy. What once sounded like a distant vision is now being welded into place on the docks of Europe's busiest port.