Virya Energy, HyoffGreen and Messer announce Final Investment Decision for 25MW renewable hydrogen plant in Zeebrugge, paving the way for sustainable mobility and industry

Collaboration across the energy value chain

The Hyoffwind project is led by a pioneer consortium that spans the entire energy value chain. Hyoffgreen and Messer enter the project as partners jointly with Virya Energy, following the appointment of John Cockerill and Besix as EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) partners announced earlier this year. This consortium, united by a shared vision on sustainability, brings extensive energy and industrial expertise to the project, ranging from renewable energy capture over to production and distribution of green hydrogen for mobility and industrial end applications.

Expanding Messer's green hydrogen network

As the world's largest privately owned industrial gases specialist, Messer has extensive experience in the production, logistics and delivery of hydrogen. Messer offers a well-developed network of H2 sources around the world, which is being systematically expanded to ensure a reliable supply to its customers.

For Messer, hydrogen plays an important role in terms of a sustainable, green future, green mobility and the decarbonization of its customers' production processes. That’s why Messer is using its experience and its technological expertise in an energetic, targeted and, above all, climate-neutral manner.

By entering into this partnership in the Benelux, Messer is responding to an important demand for the installation, support and supply of green hydrogen infrastructures for its customers, who are at the beginning of this important and necessary energy transition.

Pioneering Belgium’s renewable energy economy

Renewable hydrogen is a pivotal element in advancing a renewable energy economy, serving as both a raw material or energy input for industrial processes and a versatile resource for various heavy duty mobility applications. Hyoffwind will enhance the flexibility and stability of the Belgian energy system, contributing as part of the solution to the challenges posed by the variability of renewable electricity production. Furthermore, Hyoffwind, located in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, will become a strategic component of the future hydrogen network connecting production sites and industrial zones in North-West Europe.

The contribution of renewable hydrogen to the energy transition and its role in the hydrogen economy is underpinned by a 30 million subsidy awarded earlier this year by the Flemish government, using recovery funding from the European Union (NextGenerationEU) and from the Flemish government.

Hyoffwind is a huge step forward fostering the emergence of hydrogen ecosystems in the Benelux, bringing the EU one step closer to a climate neutrality.

A strategic location

The plant, upon completion, will feature an initial capacity of 25MW, with potential for future expansion up to 100 MW. Zeebrugge, chosen for its strategic location, is well connected to all relevant energy networks and is as such the ideal location to realize the sector coupling.

Paul Tummers, CEO of Virya Energy explained: "Hyoffwind exemplifies our belief in hydrogen's transformative power and its role in our fit-for-purpose energy approach. ​ It is a demonstration of our ability to develop complex projects at the forefront of the energy transition. The project, driven by strong complementary partnerships, marks a significant step towards a more resilient sustainable energy future for Belgium and creates a promising outlook for the hydrogen industry."

"This partnership demonstrates Messer's commitment to a cleaner, greener future and is an important milestone in our strategy. Investing in green hydrogen is not just an environmental decision, it's a blueprint for a sustainable future. At Messer, we are focused on developing technologies that make our customers' production processes environmentally friendly, more efficient, and safer. Messer Benelux will extend the benefits of these applications to our industrial customers who are switching to green hydrogen for their production. We are proud to be at the front line in innovation and sustainability”, added Virginia Esly, CEO Europe at Messer.

Ludo Kelchtermans, co-CEO of VEH: “Investing in a green hydrogen project represents our strategic commitment to a sustainable energy future. By harnessing the power of our wind farms to produce hydrogen, we are positioning ourselves at the forefront of the emerging hydrogen economy.”

Jo Brouns, Flemish minister of Economy, Innovation, Work, Social Economy and Agriculture: "I am extremely pleased that the Hyoffwind consortium has made a final investment decision and that the realization of a sustainable hydrogen plant in Zeebrugge will soon begin. With Hyoffwind, we are taking on our pioneering role in hydrogen in Flanders. Besides energy conservation and electrification, hydrogen plays an important role in the sustainability of industry and transport. Although we will need both locally produced and imported hydrogen in Flanders, this project is important for building the necessary expertise so that we can also construct such hydrogen plants abroad."

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About Virya Energy

Virya Energy is active in the development, financing, and operation of projects in the field of energy transition. The company, based in Belgium, was founded at the end of 2019 by Colruyt Group and its majority shareholder, Korys.

Virya Energy is active across the entire value chain of sustainable energy. This includes the production of green energy in Europe through its subsidiaries Eoly Energy and Eurowatt, in Asia through its subsidiary Sanchore and a majority stake in Constant Energy, and energy distribution through its subsidiary DATS 24. Virya Energy is also involved in the development of sustainable hydrogen projects through Virya H2. The company holds interests in service providers to the offshore industry, including GeoXYZ, DotOcean, and Marlinks.

About Messer

Messer is the world's largest privately owned specialist for industrial, medical and specialty gases. Under the brand 'Messer - Gases for Life', the company offers gases and services in Asia, Europe and America. The cooperation between the more than 11,500 highly qualified international employees is based on mutual respect. Messer pays particular attention to diversity and inclusion.

Messer's 'Gases for Life' are used in industry, environmental protection, medicine, the food industry, the electronics industry, welding and cutting technology, 3D printing, construction, research and science. Messer offers one of the largest product portfolios on the market and develops application technologies for gases in state-of-the-art competence centers. 'Gases for Life' are as important as water and electricity in most industrial processes and can play a significant role in their decarbonization, for example through the use of green hydrogen, CCUS or oxyfuel technology. In its customers' processes, Messer's customized gas solutions ensure greater safety, efficiency, quality, capacity and environmental compatibility and/or reduce the associated emissions and costs.

As a pharmaceutical company, Messer is also a provider of medical and pharmaceutical gases and complete solutions and has proven itself to be a reliable supplier of vital products. The company was founded in 1898 and is majority-owned by the Messer family. In 2023, Messer generated consolidated sales of approx. 4.4 billion euros*.

* Consolidated presentation of Messer (formerly Messer Group and Messer Industries), which includes the former 100 percent equity-accounted investment in Messer Industries and was adjusted for the effects of the acquisition of Messer Industries in November 2023.

http://www.messergroup.com

https://applications.messergroup.com

http://www.gasesforlife.de

https://zecarb.messergroup.com

About Hyoffgreen

Hyoffgreen is a collaboration between Vlaamse Energieholding (VEH) and Z-Kracht, with 51% and 49% participation respectively. VEH invests indirectly in the transport system operators Fluxys and Elia, renewable energy, and the circular economy, and is owned by financing holdings and Flemish municipalities. Z-Kracht, owned by 94 municipalities, invests in offshore wind farms such as C-Power, Rentel, and SeaMade, with a total of 154 wind turbines and 1.121 MW capacity. These provide CO2-friendly electricity to over 1 million households.”