Zeebrugge, 18 February 2024 -- The Hyoffwind consortium today officially inaugurated the construction of Belgium's first industrial-scale green hydrogen production plant in Zeebrugge. The project brings together the expertise of Messer, the world's largest privately held specialist for industrial, medical and specialty gases, and Virya Energy with Hyoffgreen, a strategic investment vehicle backed by the Flemish Energy Holding (VEH). The 25MW plant, scheduled to produce its first green hydrogen in Q3 2026, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25,000 tons annually through various industrial and transport applications, enabling decarbonization across multiple sectors.

The ceremony at ABC Tower in Zeebrugge was attended by Minister-President of Flanders Matthias Diependaele highlighting the project's significance for Flemish and European energy transition goals.

Green hydrogen, produced using renewable electricity, will play a crucial role in decarbonizing transport and industry. The collaboration unites Messer's multi-generational expertise in industrial gases with Virya Energy's renewable energy leadership, alongside Hyoffgreen, a dedicated investment vehicle backed by the Flemish Energy Holding (VEH). This unique combination of private sector innovation and public strategic interests positions Belgium at the forefront of Europe's hydrogen economy.

"This alliance demonstrates how private sector excellence, combined with public strategic investment, can accelerate our energy transition," stated Minister-President Diependaele at the "Window to the Future" event. “Given the decarbonization goals in industry and transport, the demand for green hydrogen is expected to rise. To meet future demand, it is essential to begin developing hydrogen installations on an industrial scale. Hyoffwind is pioneering this effort, laying a crucial foundation for the expansion of the green hydrogen economy in our region.”

“Industrial projects on the scale of Hyoffwind represent a remarkable milestone," commented Teresa Ribera, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Vice-President of the European Commission.” Strategically located in an energy hub, this project has the potential to offer significant opportunities for companies involved in every stage of the hydrogen value chain. It is essential to consider the entire value chain to ensure that every piece fits for its purpose. As key players in the industry sector, Hyoffwind's role is vital in shaping the future.

The facility's cutting-edge electrolysis technology and integration with renewable energy sources showcase Belgium's technological capabilities in the hydrogen sector. Paul Tummers, CEO of Virya Energy, emphasized: "Beyond its technical sophistication, Hyoffwind represents our fundamental belief that hydrogen is indispensable for achieving climate neutrality. This facility demonstrates how we can transform our deep industrial expertise into practical solutions for today's energy challenges."

Annett Beier, Managing Director of Messer Belgium, highlighted the project's industrial significance:

"As a business with over 125 years of expertise in industrial gases, we firmly believe in hydrogen's crucial role in driving industrial decarbonization. This project seamlessly blends our longstanding strengths with innovative solutions to meet the energy needs of the future. Most importantly, it demonstrates that family-owned companies, such as Messer, can make a meaningful impact—as long as they have a clear vision on sustainability and the courage to invest in it boldly."

The 25MW facility, backed by €30 million in Flemish government and NextGenerationEU funding, will reduce CO2 emissions by 25,000 tons annually and has expansion potential to 100MW. Its strategic location in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges positions it as a cornerstone of North-West Europe's emerging hydrogen infrastructure.

Ludo Kelchtermans, co-CEO of VEH, emphasized the national strategic dimension: "Through Hyoffgreen's involvement, we're ensuring that this breakthrough project aligns with Belgium's long-term energy security and sustainability goals while maintaining our industrial competitiveness."

The event featured an animated panel discussion on accelerating hydrogen deployment, bringing together experts from WaterstofNet, Bekaert, Transport and Logistics Flanders, and Barbara Veranneman from essenscia. The engaging debate demonstrated strong cross-sector support for the initiative's role in Belgium's energy transition. The event's exhibition area showcased the growing maturity of hydrogen technology, featuring hydrogen vehicles from BMW, Toyota, and CMB.Tech. As part of their Zero Emission Transport (ZET) initiative, which aims to achieve zero-emission freight transport across their entire value chain by 2035, Colruyt Group displayed a new 44-tonne hydrogen truck - a pioneering development by VDL Special Vehicles under the European H2Haul project, which they will test for their daily logistics operations in the upcoming months. Alongside Messer's tube trailers (380 BAR and 200 BAR trailer), hydrogen car and an operational hydrogen generator similar to the one used during last edition of F1 Francorchamps, this comprehensive exhibition illustrated the complete hydrogen value chain, from production to real-world applications in mobility and industry.

 

About Virya Energy

Virya Energy, founded in 2019 through a partnership between Colruyt Group and its majority shareholder Korys, is a Belgian pioneer in renewable energy development. The company operates across the complete sustainable energy value chain. Virya Energy's operations span Europe through its grid solutions and C&I platforms, and Asia through subsidiaries Sanchore and Constant Energy. The company manages energy distribution via DATS 24 and develops sustainable hydrogen projects both directly and through Dhyve and Hiringa. Virya Energy also holds strategic investments in renewable industry service providers, including GeoXYZ, DotOcean, Fluves, and Marlinks. Through its "fit for purpose energy" strategy, Virya Energy delivers tailored solutions from production to end-users, accelerating the energy transition and driving technological innovation.

Virya-energy.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.”