In a few years, industrial enterprises in the German Rhineland and South Limburg want their CO2 to flow through pipes to Rotterdam. Hydrogen, LPG, and propylene pipelines must also be developed along the route. Shell, RWE, thyssenkrupp, HeidelbergCement, the Port of Rotterdam Authority, and the Chemelot industrial complex are among the enterprises making preparations.

The linkages are described as “urgent and vital” if industrial businesses are to decrease CO2 emissions in the next years and satisfy European climate goals.

The so-called Delta Corridor, which includes four pipelines, will be operational in 2026 if all goes according to plan. The plan is to link the pipes to other industrial locations, such as Moerdijk.

Pipelines are an effective way to transport goods. According to the creators, it saves a lot of transportation movements. When the pipes are completed, industrial enterprises that are connected to them will be able to quickly release CO2 that has been gathered. Another large-scale initiative to store greenhouse gas in abandoned gas fields beneath the North Sea has been underway for some years. This paves the way for the building of CO2 transport pipelines between Rotterdam’s port and the gas fields.

For industry, hydrogen that must flow in the opposite way is becoming increasingly vital. Hydrogen is an environmentally friendly fuel that may be used to replace natural gas or coal in industrial processes. However, a large amount of green energy is required to create it in a sustainable manner. At the moment, natural gas is being used to make a lot of hydrogen.

The pipeline project has entered a “new phase,” according to Shell. According to the oil giant, the firms involved would conduct a “comprehensive feasibility analysis.” They aim to “collaborate closely” with governments and the EU.

Avoiding CO2 emissions is beneficial for more than only climate change mitigation. It also saves money for businesses. They must pay for their CO2 emissions beyond a particular threshold. They won’t have to if greenhouse gas emissions are reduced underground.

In the years leading up to and including 2030, the EU aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global warming, by 55 percent. Emissions trading is a key tool for doing this. As permits are pulled from the market each year, the price of allowances jumped considerably last year and is anticipated to rise much more this year. At present pricing, storing CO2 rather than releasing it is more or less cost-effective.