Air Products on 9 November announced a long-term supply contract and plans to build a new world-scale hydrogen production plant to serve ExxonMobil\u2019s (Esso) Rotterdam refinery in the Netherlands and additional customers in the region.<\/p>\n
The plant will feature technology advancements to maximize facility energy efficiency and emission reductions. It will be connected to Air Products\u2019 extensive Rotterdam hydrogen pipeline network system and is expected to be on-stream in the second half of 2011. \u201cWe are proud to strengthen our relationship with ExxonMobil with this new contract in Europe and to build a new state-of-the-art hydrogen production facility,\u201d said Howard Castle-Smith, vice president\u2013Tonnage Gases, Equipment and Energy for Air Products in Europe and the Middle East. \u201cThis project enhances Air Products\u2019 existing operations and pipeline network system in the Netherlands where we have a number of hydrogen facilities in the Rotterdam region supplying the refining and chemical industries. This new project demonstrates our commitment to a region which has made hydrogen a key to its continued development.\u201d \u201cThe new hydrogen facility will use cutting edge processes and technology to maximize energy efficiency and significantly reduce overall plant emissions,\u201d said Denis Deheusch, general manager\u2013Tonnage Gases for Air Products in the Benelux. \u201cWe will be able to achieve this through an enhanced plant design which targets minimal loss of heat to the environment and a reduced natural gas requirement.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Rotterdam project builds on two previous announcements in the past year involving Air Products and ExxonMobil in the United States. Air Products is building a new world-scale hydrogen production facility which will supply ExxonMobil\u2019s Baton Rouge, Louisiana facility, and also announced a hydrogen pipeline supply agreement from Air Products\u2019 Gulf Coast network to ExxonMobil\u2019s Baytown, Texas refinery. Both projects are to come on-stream in 2010.<\/p>\n