Hyoffwind
In Zeebrugge, Besix, Besix Environment, and John Cockerill are currently building the very first plant where green hydrogen will be produced on a commercial scale. The first molecules are expected by the end of this year, after which capacity will be scaled up to 3,700 tonnes annually. However, due to the nature of the hydrogen molecules, this requires piping of the highest integrity. That makes Indinox the perfect match. Aurélie de Potter d’Indoye, project manager for Besix Environment, explains why this collaboration works so well.
“At Besix Environment, we believe in long-term relationships. We know that Indinox can deliver the quality we expect."
SERVICES
Hyoffwind is a project by Virya Energy, in collaboration with HyoffGreen and Messer. This 25 MW production facility will convert renewable electricity from offshore wind into green hydrogen for industrial and mobility applications. Besix, Besix Environment, and John Cockerill are leading the engineering, procurement, construction, delivery, and commissioning of the green hydrogen plant. Besix and Brdix Environment brings their proven expertise in complex projects to the table, while John Cockerill contributes its world-class alkaline electrolysis technology. Complementary skills that come together to ensure the project’s success.
Challenging project
When we visit the site at the end of February, the project has already entered its second phase. De Potter d’Indoye describes what makes Hyoffwind so unique. “It’s a first for everyone. Nowhere else in Europe has a green hydrogen project of this scale been built. As for the piping, on the one hand you have the classic techniques found in other plants: cooling water, demineralized water, and so on. With the added challenge here that we are located close to the sea. Due to the presence of salt in the air, at least stainless steel 316 is required, or even a C5 coating (often used in the marine sector). In addition, we use less common materials such as Incoloy, which are more resistant to the processes and fluids required for hydrogen production.” Indinox is responsible for piping construction up to medium pressures of 90 bar.
High quality requirements
Anyone looking only at the raw figures might not be immediately impressed by the piping in the Hyoffwind project. “In total, it involves about three kilometers of piping with diameters up to 14 inches. It is actually a very compact site. The challenge lies mainly in the level of quality required. It really has to be top-notch for a product like hydrogen”, says de Potter d’Indoye. Indinox’s specialization in stainless steel was a first advantage in awarding this contract to the piping specialist from Lokeren. The trust Besix had already built up in previous projects was another. “At Besix Environment, we believe in long-term relationships. We know that Indinox can deliver the quality we expect.”
Reliable and responsive
Nevertheless, this also meant stepping up efforts for Indinox project manager Sven Cousaert. “As mentioned, this is a unique project in Belgium. The bar is set very high—and rightly so. It gives the whole team a boost to prove what we’re capable of.” Most of the piping is meticulously prepared in the workshop in Lokeren based on the detailed design from Besix, Besic Environment and John Cockerill. Everything is then installed and finished on-site according to best practices. “We use our own quality tool to check the delivered work. This is not only to detect any non-conformities in time, but also to verify all required documentation”, adds de Potter d’Indoye. “This project is demanding—and so am I. Over the past months, Indinox has proven itself to be a reliable partner that delivers quality. Moreover, they are very responsive: if there is ever a remark, it is immediately followed up properly.”
Safety first
On average, a team of fifteen people from Indinox is working at the Hyoffwind site. During peak periods, this number increases further. “Space is limited here, yet many contractors are active. You need to be able to plan flexibly and push through when necessary to keep the project on track”, says Cousaert. Despite the challenges of a busy site, safety remains a key focus for Besix and Besix Environment. “We aim to establish a true safety culture in which everyone is involved. With the Be-Safe ambassador program, we look for leaders in safe behavior among our contractors. They act as our eyes and ears on site to highlight what can be improved. This strengthens both collaboration and safety on site”, explains de Potter d’Indoye. “In this area as well, we have found an excellent partner in Indinox."
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