Nobian, Air Products Ink Long-Term Deal for Certified Green Hydrogen

Nobian and Air Products have entered into a long-term agreement for the offtake of certified, Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO)-compliant hydrogen produced at Nobian’s facility in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The partnership is expected to improve access to certified renewable hydrogen for industrial customers while supporting Europe’s broader decarbonization objectives.

The hydrogen will be produced at Nobian’s renewable-powered chlor-alkali electrolysis plant in Rotterdam. In 2025, the facility became the first large-scale renewable hydrogen production site in Europe to receive ISCC EU certification for RFNBO hydrogen. With annual production capacity exceeding 14,000 tonnes, equivalent to approximately 1.68 petajoules, the Rotterdam plant is currently Europe’s largest RFNBO-certified hydrogen production facility.

Under the agreement, Air Products will leverage its existing infrastructure and distribution network to make certified RFNBO hydrogen more accessible to customers across the market. The arrangement is also expected to support companies seeking to meet their regulatory obligations under the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III).

The partnership further strengthens Rotterdam’s position as a major European hydrogen hub. By combining Nobian’s certified renewable hydrogen production with Air Products’ established hydrogen infrastructure and customer network, the companies aim to provide industrial users with a reliable supply of certified low-carbon hydrogen.

Markus Mingenbach, Senior Vice President, Chlor-Alkali & Chloromethanes at Nobian, described the agreement as an important step in expanding the European market for certified green hydrogen. He emphasized that cooperation between industrial partners can accelerate the development of Europe’s hydrogen economy and support the continent’s energy transition.

Caroline Stancell, Vice President, Marketing and Growth, Europe and Africa at Air Products, said the agreement will expand customer access to RFNBO-certified hydrogen from an established production source. The company expects the supply to help industrial users address RED III requirements while advancing their decarbonization strategies.

RFNBO-certified hydrogen is becoming increasingly important for European industries, particularly fuel suppliers, refineries and other large-scale hydrogen consumers. EU regulations require at least 1% of transport fuels and 42% of hydrogen consumed in industry to originate from RFNBO-certified sources by 2030.

The long-term agreement therefore provides Nobian with a stable outlet for its certified hydrogen production while enabling Air Products to strengthen its renewable hydrogen offering. It could also encourage broader adoption of certified hydrogen across Europe as regulatory requirements and corporate decarbonization targets become more stringent.

Product and Chemical Commodity Price Impact

The agreement is bullish for RFNBO-certified hydrogen, as it secures a long-term commercial outlet for Nobian’s renewable production and expands Air Products’ distribution capabilities. Higher demand for certified green hydrogen could encourage additional electrolyzer capacity and renewable power integration in Europe. For chemical commodities tracked by ChemAnalyst, the impact is likely moderately supportive rather than immediate. Greater chlor-alkali electrolysis utilization could strengthen demand for electricity and indirectly support hydrogen-linked production economics. Chlor-alkali products such as chlorine and caustic soda could experience limited supply-demand effects if renewable electrolysis capacity expands. However, the agreement alone is unlikely to trigger a major near-term price surge.