HYDROGEN
CREATING A EUROPEAN HYDROGEN HUB
Photo Danny CornelissenPort of Rotterdam
Developments in the field of hydrogen are booming in Rotterdam. At Europe’s largest energy port, work is underway on the development of all parts of the value chain from Europe’s largest green hydrogen factory to the import of hydrogen, writes Sjaak Poppe from the Port of Rotterdam
The Port of Rotterdam is one of the most energy-intensive regions in Europe. Industry here uses a lot of energy. But most of the energy now arriving here finds its way to Germany, Belgium and other countries. Rotterdam is gaining a reputation as the energy hub of North-western Europe and changing the energy system through electrification and hydrogen is a crucial element of the Port of Rotterdam’s strategy to make the port and industry carbon neutral in 30 years’ time. The current energy and fuel system will be completely overhauled in the coming decades and hydrogen will play a crucial role. In Rotterdam, projects are being set up that, together, achieve all parts of the hydrogen chain. This includeshe production of carbon-free and low-carbon hydrogen (green and blue), a pipeline infrastructure in the port area, the use of hydrogen in industry, road transport and inland navigation, the import, storage and transit of hydrogen to other industrial regions and the development of a trading platform for hydrogen. The Port Authority does this with various coalitions of companies and in consultation with and support from the government. Hydrogen production The Dutch government plans to have 11 GW offshore wind installed in the North Sea by 2030 and is now exploring whether another 10 GW can be added before 2030. Much of that green electricity will go onshore at the Maasvlakte, the port area adjacent to the North Sea. Here, the Port of Rotterdam is developing a conversion park to produce green hydrogen. This is a business park especially for electrolysers where power connections and water are centrally organised.
12 | AUTUMN 2021
8 At Maasvlakte, the Port of Rotterdam is developing a conversion park to produce green hydrogen
The first part of this conversion park can accommodate 1 GW of electrolysis capacity. The park is divided into four plots which have all been allocated to companies including Shell and joint developments by bp and Nobian as well as Air Liquide and Vattenfall. In December, Shell ordered many of the components of their Holland Hydrogen 1 electrolyser, ahead of the FID that is planned for the Spring of 2022. This 200 MW electrolyser should be operational around two years later and will then probably be the largest in at least Europe. Bp and Nobian are planning to have their 250 MW electrolyser operational in 2025. Besides the conversion park, some companies are planning to construct green hydrogen facilities on their own sites, like Uniper. This company aims to have an 100 MW electrolyser operational by 2025. In 2030, it is expected that 2 to 2.5 MW of electrolysis capacity will be operational in Rotterdam. Infrastructure projects The Port of Rotterdam is working together with Gasunie to have a hydrogen backbone operational through the port and industrial complex at the time when the first electrolyser is producing hydrogen. This pipeline will start at the conversion park and is around 35 km long. It will be public infrastructure and every company in the port can connect to this pipeline. As such, this HyTransPort.RTM pipeline connects production, imports and use, creating a physical market and stimulate the production, import and use of hydrogen. The Port of Rotterdam is currently playing an important role in supplying energy to Germany, especially North Rhine - Westphalia. This large stream of crude oil, oil products and
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