TotalEnergies has entered into an agreement with German renewable energy developer RWE to acquire a 50% stake in OranjeWind, a 795 MW offshore wind farm currently under development in the Netherlands.
TotalEnergies will utilize its share of renewable electricity generated by the project to power 350 MW electrolyzer projects, producing approximately 40,000 tons per year of green hydrogen for decarbonizing its refineries in Northern Europe.
Decarbonizing European Refineries
TotalEnergies has set ambitious goals to decarbonize its European refineries by replacing the hydrogen currently consumed with green or low-carbon hydrogen.
The company aims to achieve a 40% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) from its oil and gas operations by 2030, compared to a 2015 baseline.
By utilizing OranjeWind’s electricity to generate green hydrogen through electrolysis, TotalEnergies expects to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 400,000 tons per year.
Significant Milestone in Energy Transition
This project marks a significant milestone in TotalEnergies’ journey towards achieving its decarbonization targets and demonstrates its commitment to pioneering the energy transition in Europe.
The integration of offshore wind power with green hydrogen electrolyzers in the Netherlands exemplifies this innovative approach.
Strategic Core Market for RWE
Located in the North Sea, about 53 km off the Dutch coast, the OranjeWind project was awarded to RWE in 2022 as part of the Dutch Hollandse Kust West VII tender.
RWE initially committed to developing electrolyzers, and TotalEnergies will now contribute to this endeavor as well.
Supporting Grid Stability and Future Energy System
In addition to producing green power and hydrogen, OranjeWind will contribute to the stability of the Dutch grid through the use of electric boilers and battery storage.
Construction of the wind farm is expected to begin in 2026, with full commissioning anticipated in early 2028.
Strong Partnership for a Green Portfolio
Stephane Michel, President of Gas Renewables & Power at TotalEnergies, and Bernard Pinatel, President of Refining & Chemicals, expressed their enthusiasm for collaborating with RWE, a major player in renewables.
They believe this integrated project serves as a model for the future Dutch energy system, addressing the challenges of intermittent wind generation and fluctuating energy demand.
Blueprint for Dutch Energy System
Sven Utermöhlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind, highlighted the Netherlands as a strategic core market for RWE’s green portfolio growth.
He emphasized the significance of having a strong partner like TotalEnergies to realize their first offshore wind project in the Netherlands and unlock OranjeWind’s full potential for system integration. Both companies are committed to helping the Netherlands achieve its decarbonization targets.