Believing there will be strong demand for sustainable hydrogen
from the shipping industry and businesses in the region, the Port of Rotterdam
and German energy company Uniper are starting a feasibility study to
investigate the possibilities of large-scale production of green hydrogen in
the Maasvlakte area in Rotterdam. The study, which will be completed this
summer, will explore leveraging the strong resources of the region to become a
leader in the commercialization of green hydrogen.
“Our location at Maasvlakte is the perfect place for
large-scale production of green hydrogen,” says Andreas Schierenbeck, CEO of
Uniper. “This is where everything comes together, large amounts of renewable
energy, the required infrastructure, and industrial customers. A better place
for green hydrogen production is hardly imaginable.”
The production of green hydrogen through electrolysis uses
renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Renewable electricity
from offshore wind farms will come ashore at Maasvlakte, and various relevant
facilities are already available on the Uniper site.
“The production of green hydrogen on the Uniper site fits in
perfectly with the strategy of the Port Authority to make the industry more
sustainable,” says Allard Castelein, CEO Port of Rotterdam Authority. “Green
hydrogen is a sustainable alternative for natural gas to realize high
temperatures. Besides, it is an important sustainable feedstock for the
chemical industry.”
The partners outlined a concept for a hydrogen plant with an
initial capacity of 100 MW by 2025. Over time they would then expand the
capacity to 500 MW.
As part of the feasibility study, they will explore the
potential market for sustainable hydrogen, both in the Rotterdam port area and
in Germany. The project team is also looking at options for import, storage, and
export at Maasvlakte. They will also explore using pipelines to deliver the
hydrogen to the major industrial complexes in Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia
region.
After the successful prequalification for the EU IPCEI
(Important Projects of Common European Interest) program, over the next few
months, the conceptual design and the technical dimensions of the new hydrogen
plant will be developed.
Rotterdam’s exploration for a large hydrogen facility joins
other ports in the region that have also announced plans to develop hydrogen
facilities following a similar timeline. In January 2021, Shell and Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries, along with Sweden’s Vattenfall energy company and municipal
company Wärme Hamburg sign a letter of intent for a project to produce 100 MW
of hydrogen from wind and solar power to make the Port of Hamburg a green
energy hub by 2025.
The Port of Oostende in Belgium, DEME Concessions, and PMV
have also formed a partnership to build a green hydrogen plant in the port area
with an electrolyzer of around 50 MW. This project is expected to start initial
operations by 2022 with the commercial plant to be operational by 2025.
Other anticipated projects centered on ports in the region
include the North Sea Port where planning for a green hydrogen plant with a 25
MV electrolysis unit using commercially available technology is proceeding. It
will incorporate storage, refueling, and distribution facilities.