The Port of Rotterdam Authority helps German DeltaPort to be a regional hydrogen hub

The Port of Rotterdam Authority said it is strengthening its cooperation with DeltaPort Niederrheinhäfen, by enabling this group of inland ports in the northern Ruhr area to be a regional hub for importing green hydrogen from the Port of Rotterdam.

Other signatories of the DoI included German companies Thyssengas, energy company Eon, cold store operator Nordfrost and regional development company Kreis Wesel.

Green hydrogen can play a valuable role in the energy transition, which in turn is indispensable for meeting the Paris Climate Agreement objectives. Like the Netherlands, Germany will have to import hydrogen if it is serious about meeting the expected rising demand for green hydrogen.

DeltaPort considers the partnership an excellent opportunity to combine activities and integrate these with the hydrogen strategy of North Rhine-Westphalia, it said.

“The significance of this project goes way beyond our region,” said Andreas Pinkwart (FDP), minister of economic affairs, innovation, digitalisation and energy of North Rhine-Westphalia when the declaration was signed. The H₂UB DeltaPort project is focused on the supply of hydrogen for regional users in the Wesel and Kleve districts.

“There are two essential projects that make this partnership interesting to the port authority. In the first place, we see splendid opportunities for becoming a hub in the supply and transit of green hydrogen. After all, there are many competent parties in the region that are highly interested in this clean energy carrier. If locally produced hydrogen is insufficient to meet demand, hydrogen can be imported via Rotterdam. Inland shipping and rail have a central role in this context,” explained Emile Hoogsteden, commercial director at the Port of Rotterdam Authority.

“Secondly, we want to help with developing a ‘cool corridor’, a regular inland shipping connection for reefer containers between Rotterdam and the Ruhr area. With Nordfrost’s investment in a new centre for refrigeration logistics that can run on clean energy, we can help develop emission-free inland shipping connections with the deep-sea terminals in Rotterdam,” Hoogsteden added.

For more information visit www.portofrotterdam.com