FLIE launches pilot hall at SubZero Rotterdam to strengthen a more resilient and sustainable industrial Europe

On 1 April, the lease agreement for the pilot hall was signed by PlatformZero and TNO. The Port of Rotterdam Authority is involved in the development of the facility in its role as an investor. With support from the Province of South Holland, the necessary infrastructure is being realised. This marks an important milestone and lays the foundation for the commissioning of the facility, where FLIE, together with its partners, will work on practical solutions for the decarbonisation of industrial processes.

SubZero: a strategic hub for climate innovation in Rotterdam

FLIE’s new pilot hall is located at SubZero on Keileweg, in the Merwe-Vierhavens (M4H) area of Rotterdam. SubZero is developing into a climate tech hub where start-ups, scale-ups and industrial partners come together to work on sustainable solutions for port and industry.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority plays a facilitating role by enabling housing, infrastructure and connections to the port and industrial cluster. In this capacity, it supports initiatives that contribute to innovation, sustainability and the future resilience of the Rotterdam port and industrial ecosystem.

The full hall offers 2,700 m² of testing and production space, of which FLIE will occupy 800 m² for its own pilot and testing facilities. Its location within the port and industrial cluster provides users with direct access to industrial infrastructure, logistics and end users.

Who do they (of FLIE) support and how?

The pilot hall is aimed at industrial end users, technology providers, energy companies and knowledge institutions looking to take concrete steps in the energy transition. The focus is on technologies related to hydrogen, energy storage, industrial heat and carbon capture and utilisation (CCU).

FLIE provides access to advanced testing facilities, TNO’s expertise in industrial electrification and system integration, and FME’s market knowledge and connections within the industrial network. InnovationQuarter supports companies in scaling up by connecting them with partners, financing and regional expertise, and contributes to a steady pipeline of new pilot projects. This enables FLIE to further develop as a testing and scale-up environment for industrial decarbonisation innovation. The facilities are specifically designed for technologies at TRL levels 4 to 6, with support for scaling from prototype to real-world validation.

Collaboration and ecosystem

FLIE works closely with a growing network of partners who are jointly accelerating the energy transition. Platform Zero has also joined the FLIE partnership, focusing on accelerating market development. In this role, it contributes through scouting, screening and providing access to relevant networks and funding opportunities.

Together with this partner community, FLIE offers an integrated value chain, from early-stage exploration to validation and scaling in an industrial setting. This next step builds on the foundation that FLIE has established in recent years together with Deltalinqs, FME, InnovationQuarter, the Port of Rotterdam and TNO.

The opening of the pilot hall clearly marks the start of a new phase. Further developments, new pilot projects and additional collaborations will follow in the coming period. FLIE’s activities are strongly supported by ERDF funding, the Municipality of Rotterdam and the Province of South Holland.