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VoltH2 to supply Evonik with green H2 for hydrogen peroxide production

| By Mary Bailey

Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany) 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, starting operations by 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 its remaining hydrogen needs, Evonik will use its own conventional hydrogen production at the site. This approach will ensure an uninterrupted supply until the supply of green hydrogen has grown sufficiently to meet demand at any time. VoltH2 will also build a filling station for tube trailers at Evonik’s site.The hydrogen in tube trailers will be available around the clock to VoltH2’s other customers.

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 NetherlandsManaging Director Peter Metten explains: “We want to switch our production over entirely to renewable sources. By introducing green hydrogen at the Delfzijl plant, we are taking an significant 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 for 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 emissions reductions on a large scale in the coming years.”

“This is an example of how collaboration is the key to sustainable transformation,” adds Christophe Batz-Sohn, Director for 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 world.”

The Active Oxygens business line has already implemented wide-reaching 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.