World-scale CO2 Capture Unit Construction by Air Liquide for Rotterdam's Industrial Basin Deccarbonization Through Hydrogen Production
Air Liquide, a leading global player in gases, technologies, and services for industry and health, has announced a significant step towards decarbonization with a new project in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The project involves the construction of a world-scale 200 MW green hydrogen production plant, complete with a large-scale CO2 capture unit.
The decision to proceed with the final investment (FID) for this project was made in July 2025, with construction and supply expected to begin in late 2027. The overall project cost is estimated to exceed €500 million.
The new CO2 capture unit will be built at Air Liquide's hydrogen production plant in the port of Rotterdam. Once operational, it will capture up to 800,000 tons of CO2 annually, a substantial contribution to carbon reduction efforts in the Netherlands.
The carbon capture unit will be integrated into the Porthos carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, a large-scale infrastructure aimed at developing CO2 transport and storage infrastructure offshore. The Porthos project is a public-private partnership with significant government support.
Emilie Mouren-Renouard, a member of Air Liquide's Executive Committee, will oversee the project as the Chief Executive Officer of the Europe Industries Hub. Air Liquide, a Paris-based company listed on the Euronext Paris (Paris:AI), will build the carbon capture unit in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Air Liquide's presence in the Benelux region is substantial, employing over 1,200 people and operating 2,223 kilometers of industrial gas pipelines. The company's Benelux operations comprise subsidiaries active in the production, distribution, and sale of industrial and medical gases, technologies, and services.
The new CO2 capture unit is part of Air Liquide's broader commitment to reducing its CO2 emissions by 33% by 2035. The captured CO2 will be transported through the Porthos infrastructure and stored in depleted gas fields in the North Sea.
This project aligns with the Netherlands' broader CCS strategy, including initiatives like the Porthos project, which coordinates CO2 capture, transport, and offshore storage infrastructure development. The European Union has recognized Porthos as a major cross-border infrastructure project.
Air Liquide supplies more than 122,000 customers and patients in the Benelux, and the company's operations in the region date back to 1906 in Belgium and 1913 in the Netherlands. The new CO2 capture unit is expected to be operational in 2026, marking a significant milestone in Air Liquide's decarbonization efforts and the Netherlands' broader commitment to reducing CO2 emissions.
[1] Air Liquide. (2023). Air Liquide announces final investment decision for world-scale green hydrogen production plant in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Retrieved from https://www.airliquide.com/en/media/press-releases/air-liquide-announces-final-investment-decision-for-world-scale-green-hydrogen-production-plant-in-rotterdam-netherlands
[2] Air Liquide. (2025). Air Liquide expands carbon capture capabilities at Rotterdam hydrogen site as part of Porthos carbon capture and storage project. Retrieved from https://www.airliquide.com/en/media/press-releases/air-liquide-expands-carbon-capture-capabilities-at-rotterdam-hydrogen-site-as-part-of-porthos-carbon-capture-and-storage-project
[3] Air Liquide. (2023). Air Liquide announces final investment decision for world-scale green hydrogen production plant in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Retrieved from https://www.airliquide.com/en/media/press-releases/air-liquide-announces-final-investment-decision-for-world-scale-green-hydrogen-production-plant-in-rotterdam-netherlands
[5] Air Liquide. (2023). Air Liquide announces final investment decision for world-scale green hydrogen production plant in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Retrieved from https://www.airliquide.com/en/media/press-releases/air-liquide-announces-final-investment-decision-for-world-scale-green-hydrogen-production-plant-in-rotterdam-netherlands
- The green hydrogen production plant, along with the large-scale CO2 capture unit built by Air Liquide in Rotterdam, will significantly contribute to environmental-science efforts aimed at reducing CO2 emissions.
- This project marks a strategic step for Air Liquide's finance department as the company invests over €500 million in renewable energy and carbon capture technology.
- In alignment with the industry's transition towards sustainability, Air Liquide's new CO2 capture unit will not only support the company's national and international climate-change initiatives but also strengthen its position as a leader in environmental-science and energy solutions.
