TotalEnergies has recently finalized agreements with German renewable developer RWE to acquire a 50% ownership in OranjeWind, a 795 MW offshore wind farm in progress in the Netherlands.

Source: TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies will utilize its portion of renewable electricity from this venture to fuel 350 MW electrolyzer projects, generating approximately 40,000 tons of green hydrogen annually for the decarbonization of TotalEnergies' refineries in Northern Europe.

Decarbonizing Refineries Through Green Hydrogen Production

TotalEnergies aims to decarbonize its European refineries' hydrogen supply, reducing its CO2 emissions by about 5 million tons per year by 2030. To achieve this, the company plans to use its stake in OranjeWind to produce electricity for generating green hydrogen through electrolysis. This shift to green or low-carbon hydrogen will replace the current hydrogen consumption in TotalEnergies' refineries, preventing the release of approximately 400,000 tons of CO2 annually.

We are delighted to working with RWE, a major player in renewables, on a project that will enable us to develop production of green hydrogen, which we need to decarbonize our refineries in northern Europe. This integrated, innovative project perfectly illustrates our pioneering role in the energy transition in Europe, especially through the emergence of offshore wind power linked to green hydrogen electrolyzers in the Netherlands.

This initiative marks a significant step towards TotalEnergies' target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions related to its oil and gas operations by 40% by 2030 compared to 2015 levels (Scope 1 and 2 emissions).

OranjeWind a Cutting-Edge Offshore Wind Project

Situated in the North Sea, approximately 53 km off the Dutch coast, OranjeWind was secured by RWE in 2022 through the Dutch Hollandse Kust West VII tender. RWE committed to developing electrolyzers for the project, with TotalEnergies now joining in this endeavor.

The Netherlands is one of our strategic core markets to grow our green portfolio. In TotalEnergies I am delighted to have a strong partner at our side with whom we can realize our first offshore wind project in the Netherlands and at the same time unlock the full system integration of OranjeWind. Together, we will provide a blueprint for the Dutch energy system of the future, designed to tackle the challenges of intermittent wind generation and flexible energy demand. As key players in the Dutch energy market, we are both committed to helping the Netherlands meet its decarbonization targets.

Apart from generating green power and hydrogen, OranjeWind will enhance the stability of the Dutch grid through its electric boilers and battery storage. Construction of the wind farm is set to commence in 2026, with full operation anticipated by early 2028.