Howden has been selected to deliver a hydrogen compression solution for Shell’s Holland Hydrogen 1 facility in Rotterdam. When complete, this project will be Europe’s largest renewable hydrogen plant.

The 200MW plant will be powered using renewable energy from the offshore wind farm Hollandse Kust (noord) and is expected to produce up to 60,000 kilograms per day of hydrogen. Howden will supply two reciprocating compressors, enabled with Howden Uptime. Howden’s unique Free Floating Piston™ system feature uses a cushion of process gas to support the piston, eliminating rider ring wear and greatly extending intervals between maintenance. Each compressor will handle 50% of the total hydrogen capacity. The hydrogen compression system will run without standby capacity meaning that highest availability and reliability of the compressors are key to the success of the project.

This flagship project is a vital step forward towards the development of a global hydrogen economy and cleaner energy future. Our longstanding collaboration with Shell demonstrates Howden’s capabilities in developing and delivering state-of-the-art hydrogen compression solutions. Reliability is an absolute prerequisite for this project. By understanding the projects’ goals, working collaboratively with Shell, Worley and Conpacksys to design and provide the optimal solution, our compression technology will compress and handle renewable hydrogen safely and efficiently.

Prior to this contract award, Howden was selected last year to supply compression solutions to Shell’s biofuels facility located in the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park. Once built, the facility will be among the largest in Europe to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel produced from waste. Howden focuses on helping customers increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their air and gas handling processes enabling them to make sustainable improvements in their environmental impact. Howden designs, manufactures and supplies products, solutions and services to customers around the world across highly diversified end-markets and geographies.