An international consortium of companies is proposing to
create a green bunker hub in the Baltic, where ships can refuel with
sustainable fuels. The effort follows the recommendation from the Danish
government that suggested the island of Bornholm could become a hub in the
region and part of the country’s broader plan to develop sustainable resources
in the region.
The consortium made up of Orsted, Molslinjen, Haldor Topsoe,
Bunker Holding Group, Wartsila, Ramboll, Bureau Veritas and Port of Roenne will
explore the opportunities to establish a bunkering station with green maritime
fuel on Bornholm. The project will investigate how local Power-to-X can support
the need for sustainable fuels for the more than 60,000 ships that pass
Bornholm in the middle of the Baltic Sea every year.
“We see great potential in utilizing Bornholm as an energy
island to meet the Danish government's ambitious goal of reducing CO2
emissions. Denmark has a unique opportunity to create an industrial position of
strength within the production of sustainable fuels for heavy transport and to
create jobs in the process,” said Anders Nordstrøm, Vice President, Head of
Hydrogen at Orsted. “Bornholm's strategic location makes it also ideal as a hub
for green energy solutions, and we look forward to exploring the potential for
delivering sustainable fuels for shipping from Bornholm.”
The Bornholm Bunker Hub consortium will undertake a
feasibility study to explore the financial potential for supplying sustainable
fuels in the Baltic Sea produced using offshore wind energy. Their vision for
the Bornholm Bunker Hub they believe can also be scaled and contribute
significantly to reducing global CO2 emissions.
Bornholm is centrally located along major shipping lanes and
well positioned to exploiting the potential of green electricity from offshore
wind in the entire Baltic region. The partners believe it can be a center
combing the resources of Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and Germany. As part of the
project, investigations will also be carried out exploring whether it is
appropriate to produce green ammonia locally on Bornholm, or whether this
should be imported in the first phase.
Earlier this year, the Danish government announced plans to
build the world’s first artificial island in the same region of the Baltic to
become a hub for the collection and distribution of electrical power from
offshore wind farms. Denmark envisions Bornholm as becoming a center for the
energy industry in the region and plans a second energy hub to be located on
the island.