The present gas crisis, as well as reliance on Russian energy, are putting further pressure on hydrogen development. In the near future, final investment decisions for the building of hydrogen plants and the installation of pipelines are expected in Rotterdam. The largest port in Europe wants to be a leader in the European hydrogen economy, therefore it’s importing hydrogen in enormous quantities.
If the European Commission and the Dutch government have their way, hydrogen will be the new “sustainable” gas. However, hydrogen may only be considered “green” if it is produced using renewable energy sources. Because there is now a scarcity in the Netherlands, the Port of Rotterdam Authority is seeking sustainable hydrogen on a global scale.
“There is a lot of strain for numerous reasons,” says Nico van Dooren, the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s energy transition manager. “One is that we want to gain independence from Russia sooner rather than later. Another factor is the weather.” The European Commission has nearly doubled its hydrogen import goals from 5.6 to 20 megatons by 2030. “It should work because it puts a lot of pressure on,” Van Dooren explains.
On Maasvlakte 2, the last piece of undeveloped ground has been set aside for five hydrogen plants. These so-called electrolyzers use energy and water to produce hydrogen. A cable from grid operator Tennet will come ashore, supplying energy to the new wind farms in the North Sea, in addition to the industries. A portion of that energy must be transformed into hydrogen. Shell, BP, Uniper, and Air Liquide are among the companies that have expressed interest in building the plants.
Hydrogen is designed to provide a natural gas alternative for chemical firms in the port region. Switching to electricity is more efficient since energy is wasted during the generation of hydrogen, but industries that demand high temperatures for their manufacturing, for example, cannot utilize electricity. They have the option of switching to green hydrogen. Hydrogen is already used by many chemical businesses, although it is mainly produced from natural gas.
Hydrogen is also employed in the heavy transportation, in addition to manufacturing. There are already hydrogen-powered buses, lorries, trains, and ships on the road or at sea. A collection of Dutch firms stated that they will begin developing hydrogen aircraft.
The first hydrogen-fueled tankers are expected to arrive in Rotterdam in 2025. Rotterdam plans to import 4 megatons of hydrogen by 2030 and create 0.6 megatons on its own.
Rotterdam is attempting to solve the chicken-and-egg conundrum by importing hydrogen and ensuring supply. The cabinet, on the other hand, is considering securing the purchase by requiring the industry to acquire a set amount of hydrogen starting in 2026.
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