US engineering giant KBR has been awarded a front-end engineering design (FEED) contract for a proposed liquid hydrogen (LH2) import and liquid carbon dioxide (LCO2) export terminal at the Port of Amsterdam.
The project, led by CO2 logistics specialist EcoLog, aims to establish a dual-function terminal capable of supporting Europe’s emerging hydrogen trade while linking carbon capture infrastructure with industrial users.
The terminal, if constructed, is expected to handle up to 200,000 tonnes of LH2 imports and 1.8 million tonnes of CO2 exports annually. EcoLog has also secured the option to scale capacity to 600,000 tonnes of hydrogen and 4.25 million tonnes of CO2 per year, reflecting potential growth aligned with European decarbonization targets. KBR’s FEED scope will define storage systems, operational parameters, and safety standards for the facility, with completion anticipated later this year.
EcoLog plans to import LH2 via newly developed vessels from low-cost production regions, including Oman’s Port of Duqm and Norway’s Gen2 Energy, targeting both domestic use in the Netherlands and industrial consumers in Germany, such as Tata Steel. CO2 will be transported to the terminal through a combination of pipelines, trucks, and barges, creating an integrated supply chain that combines hydrogen import with carbon export.
Despite EU strategies emphasizing clean hydrogen trade, long-distance LH2 transport faces substantial challenges. Technical constraints arise from the molecule’s extreme cryogenic temperature requirements at –253ºC, creating boil-off risks during shipping. Economic considerations are equally pressing, as infrastructure costs and energy-intensive handling can limit competitiveness versus alternative carriers like ammonia, which require additional energy to release pure hydrogen.
Market signals highlight the complexity of scaling hydrogen imports. The Port of Rotterdam’s recent consultation indicated that most potential operators would not begin LH2 operations by 2030, citing permitting delays, grid congestion, and uncertain demand. EcoLog’s Amsterdam project enters this context as a high-capacity option but must navigate the same technical, regulatory, and market hurdles that have slowed adoption elsewhere in Europe.
