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As Europe’s first utility-scale green hydrogen facility, Shell’s Holland Hydrogen 1 project marks a significant milestone in the continent’s energy transition. Mammoet played a critical role in ensuring the constructability and logistics planning for this landmark development.
Located behind the sand dunes of the Dutch coastline, the 200MW Holland Hydrogen 1 electrolyser plant will produce up to 60,000 kilograms of renewable hydrogen per day. Powered by electricity from the Hollandse Kust Noord offshore wind farm, the facility aims to supply sustainable fuel for sectors such as construction, transportation, and heavy industry.
Shell enlisted the expertise of Mammoet during the project’s FEED (Front End Engineering Design) phase to assess and plan the constructability of the facility. The company provided consulting services, route planning, transport coordination, and execution of critical lifts — from delivery to on-site installation.
Early Involvement Key to Planning
Paul van der Waal, Tender Specialist at Mammoet, was part of the initial team that supported Shell with pre-construction studies. “We started our involvement supporting with the route survey,” said van der Waal, “as part of wider pre-study activity. I was actively involved in the constructability meetings to look at the build from a transport and lift perspective.”
The team’s input shaped the modularization strategy by advising on optimal component sizing and transport methods. The Euromax Terminal in Rotterdam was chosen as the port of entry, where Mammoet conducted quay load-bearing studies to ensure the site could handle the heaviest cargo modules without size constraints.
Managing Movement from Port to Plant
Heavy items arriving by sea were unloaded at the Euromax Terminal using a 750-tonne mobile crane and then placed on trailers pulled by prime movers. Cargo was either stored temporarily at the port or transported directly to the construction site, 15 kilometres away.
This section of the project required meticulous timing and space coordination, as the area was under constant development and access routes were limited.
Emission-Free Heavy Lifting
As several major construction activities occurred indoors, Mammoet deployed zero-emission machinery to meet environmental regulations. The equipment lineup included an electric-powered hydraulic platform trailer (HDC), a robot mover, and an LTC1050-3.1E electric crane.
All lifts for equipment over one tonne were executed by Mammoet operators using a fleet of mobile cranes with capacities between 60 and 750 tonnes. Transformers weighing between 90 and 165 tonnes were installed using skidding and jacking techniques. For the rooftop, ten 80-tonne air cooler units were lifted into position using a custom-built steel structure.
Complex Assembly Inside the Electrolyser Hall
Inside the main building, around 200 components were installed, including ten electrolyser units, each comprising roughly 20 individual parts. Due to limited workspace, Mammoet supported a modular solution by relocating fabrication of a large pipe rack offsite. The structure was delivered in two sections and installed on-site with minimal disruption to ongoing work.
Integrated Execution Through Close Coordination
Marco Barendregt, Project Manager at Mammoet, emphasized the importance of communication and teamwork. “We had an active on-site team who was fully immersed in the process,” he said. “We maintained good communication with Shell, as well as with all the other parties on the mechanical, steel, and construction sides of the build. This ensured the installation schedule went to plan, with every heavy movement integrated smoothly with the next.”
This project highlights how specialized experience in modular construction, transport logistics, and precision lifting can facilitate the transition to sustainable energy infrastructure. Mammoet’s emission-free solutions were essential in delivering the project to schedule while aligning with the plant’s renewable energy goals.
