Connecting Flanders' Ports into Belgium's First Hydrogen Valley
FLHyPorts

2026-2031

Flanders is taking a major step towards a sustainable future with the launch of the FLHyPorts project, a groundbreaking Hydrogen Valley initiative. The project connects hydrogen production, distribution, and end-use across the Flemish port ecosystems, creating an integrated and scalable hydrogen value chain, that brings renewable hydrogen to the port and industry.

Coordinated by WaterstofNet, FLHyPorts is anchored by the Hyoffwind facility, a 25 MW renewable hydrogen electrolysis plant, developed by Virya Energy, Messer and HyoffGreen, which is currently under construction, designed to produce RFNBO-compliant renewable hydrogen with fuel-cell grade quality for demanding mobility and industrial applications. The project will demonstrate how hydrogen can de-carbonize logistics, port operations, inland shipping, industrial processes, and mobility, while also providing flexibility services to both the electricity and natural gas grids.

The three major Flemish ports - Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Port of Ostend, and North Sea Port - play a central role in the production, distribution, and application of hydrogen. Industrial partners Virya Energy and Messer, shareholders of Hyoffwind, bringing extensive experience in renewable energy and industrial hydrogen production, will support hydrogen offtake across five key applications: mobility (Dhyve), shipping- and port equipment (PSA Antwerp, Boluda, Kalmar and Hyster-Yale), industry, energy integration, and inland waterway transport (MTS).

FLHyPorts is supported by a broad consortium of knowledge partners, including the University of Antwerp and Cenex, infrastructure operators such as Fluxys, as well as public authorities and international partners. This strong collaboration ensures wide dissemination and replication of the project’s approach both within and beyond Europe.

The project contributes to the objectives of the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking Work Programme and the REPowerEU Plan. It aims to establish Belgium’s first Hydrogen Valley and supports the EU ambition to double the number of Hydrogen Valleys by 2025.

By 2030, FLHyPorts targets an annual hydrogen consumption of more than 1,800 tonnes. It will also advance key technologies—primarily developed in Europe—to Technology Readiness Level 8 (TRL 8) and support the training of 500 hydrogen professionals.

Through real-life port testbeds, FLHyPorts will deliver a certified RFNBO tracing system and a practical replication toolkit, accelerating the deployment of (further) hydrogen valleys across Europe.

Download the press release of the kick off of the project.

ROLE WATERSTOFNET

WaterstofNet coordinates the project and is responsible for the dissemination.

This project has received funding from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership (or previously the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking) under Grant Agreement No. 101250974. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program, Hydrogen Europe, and Hydrogen Europe Research.

 Project Coordinator and Communications Responsible: