Statkraft Renewables Benelux has been awarded a key government subsidy for its Zephyros green hydrogen project in the Port of Den Helder. As one of just eleven projects selected in a highly competitive national round, Zephyros has secured support through the Dutch government’s OWE scheme (Scaling Up Hydrogen via Electrolysis). This marks a major milestone for the development of large-scale renewable hydrogen production in the Netherlands—and for the region of Noord-Holland Noord.
Zephyros project by Statkraft receives government grant
Zephyros is designed to produce renewable hydrogen through electrolysis, powered entirely by green electricity. The project will begin with a 6-megawatt electrolyzer and is designed to scale up to 150 megawatts over time. Once fully developed, Zephyros will be one of the largest hydrogen production facilities in the country, supplying sustainable hydrogen to sectors such as industry, mobility, and heavy transport.
Statkraft shared its excitement about the news: “This grant specifically supports large-scale installations that produce fully renewable hydrogen. We’re proud to have achieved this in just two years—meeting all the strict requirements for qualification. We thank the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) for placing their trust in Zephyros.”
With the subsidy in place, Statkraft is now awaiting the permitting process, which is expected to progress in the coming month.
> Also read: Port of Den Helder full speed ahead with green hydrogen
Accelerating the Hydrogen Economy
The OWE subsidy round is part of the Dutch government’s effort to speed up the transition to a hydrogen-powered economy. In total, over €700 million has been allocated to eleven projects, selected from €3.2 billion in applications. Together, these projects will deliver 602 megawatts of new electrolysis capacity—more than triple that of the current largest hydrogen facility under construction, Holland Hydrogen 1.
By closing the price gap between renewable and fossil-based hydrogen, the scheme helps make green hydrogen financially viable. The selected projects were chosen based on cost-efficiency (subsidy need per MW), making Zephyros not only technically sound but also economically competitive.
Strategic Importance of Den Helder
Zephyros is more than a local energy project—it’s a strategic development for the national hydrogen infrastructure. Located in the Port of Den Helder, the project leverages existing maritime infrastructure, access to offshore wind, and strong regional ambitions in sustainability and energy innovation.
Once operational, Zephyros will help displace fossil hydrogen in sectors that are difficult to electrify. It will also contribute to greater energy independence, reduced CO₂ emissions, and long-term economic development—locally and nationally.
With the support now secured, Statkraft is one step closer to realizing its vision of delivering homegrown, 100% renewable hydrogen from Dutch soil.
