Inland port duisport and the Port of Rotterdam have unveiled their latest partnership – a comprehensive feasibility study.
This study not only underscores the vital role these ports will play in meeting the surging demand for hydrogen and its derivatives but also positions them as conduits linking governments, industries, and future hydrogen market players.
OCI Global, a Dutch-listed global heavyweight in ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen production, has joined forces with these ports. Together, they aim to demonstrate that the envisioned hydrogen corridor spanning from Rotterdam to Duisport is not just a concept but a reality poised to fulfill the burgeoning need for low-carbon and renewable hydrogen in the Ruhr region’s industrial cluster.
This collaboration builds upon OCI Global’s longstanding partnership with the Port of Rotterdam Authority. OCI Global operates Rotterdam’s sole ammonia import terminal and is actively expanding it to triple its throughput capacity in anticipation of growing demand for ammonia as a cleaner fuel for challenging-to-decarbonize sectors. Furthermore, OCI operates a methanol import terminal and recently announced partnerships for green methanol projects, propelling the port’s position as a decarbonization hub.
The feasibility study predicts a substantial increase in demand for low-carbon hydrogen and methanol in North Rhine-Westphalia, surpassing 3 million tonnes and 2.5 million tonnes per year, respectively, by 2045. However, to transform this projection into reality, there’s a critical need for transparency in supply and demand dynamics. Duisport and the Port of Rotterdam Authority are stepping into the role of mediators, bridging the gap between political interests, business needs, and investment decisions. Their efforts are bolstered by the ‘Hy.Region.Rhein.Ruhr e.V.’ hydrogen initiative, which both ports are now part of.
To keep up with the anticipated surge in demand, the study emphasizes the need to scale up infrastructure and designate suitable areas. The first hydrogen pipeline connecting both ports should be operational by 2027 to satisfy the growing green hydrogen needs in North Rhine-Westphalia. Moreover, pipelines for hydrogen derivatives and CO2 export must follow suit. Inland shipping and rail transport will remain crucial components in kickstarting the hydrogen supply chain and facilitating initial imports. Ultimately, multiple hydrogen pipelines will be required to cater to North Rhine-Westphalia’s and surrounding areas’ growing demand.
The Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest sea port, and Duisport, the world’s largest inland port, have shared connections through rail, inland shipping, trucks, and pipelines for decades. This collaboration intensified in the past year with a Memorandum of Understanding focusing on digitalization and energy transition, paving the way for exploration into green hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia.
Both ports have already commenced action to develop essential infrastructure to support the hydrogen economy. Duisport is expanding tank storage capacities for hydrogen derivatives and plans to construct a hydrogen plant by mid-2025. Rotterdam, on the other hand, has announced projects for hydrogen import terminals and local hydrogen production. This includes OCI Global’s ammonia terminal expansion and Shell’s 200MW electrolyzer project, reserved space for electrolysers producing green hydrogen from North Sea wind energy, and Gasunie’s investment in the national hydrogen network, set to commence construction in Rotterdam.
As Europe propels itself towards a hydrogen-powered future, the collaboration between these two strategic ports signals a strong commitment to advancing the hydrogen economy, accelerating the energy transition, and shaping a sustainable future for the continent.
