Coastlink LIVE – hydrogen hub plans

At this year’s Coastlink LIVE conference, the port outlined how it aims to be at the forefront of the ports and shipping sectors’ transition to cleaner energy by creating a European hydrogen hub.

Mark Hoolwerf, deputy director at the Port of Amsterdam, shared more about the port’s vision at the Coastlink Live webinar on 3 November.

“The Port of Amsterdam is an energy port,” he said. “About two-thirds of the cargo is related either to oil products or coal. That means we have quite a challenge to achieving our goals of reaching net-zero.”

The port plans to phase out coal by 2030 and is focusing on hydrogen as a replacement in order to continue to meet the energy needs of the nearby steel and aviation industries as well as supply fuel for port activities.

“The usage of sustainable energy sources [in these areas] is still very low,” said Mr Hoolwerf. “We have quite a big challenge to scale it up and rapidly change towards more sustainable choices.”

Hydrogen hub

To become a European hydrogen hub the port is taking three consecutive steps – kick-starting projects to realise key infrastructure, followed by strengthening the end-to-end value chain and finally maturing hydrogen markets and importing green hydrogen.

“We have a number of green hydrogen production facilities developed in the port, courtesy of the large offshore wind farms in the North Sea,” said Mr Hoolwerf, adding that demand for green hydrogen will outstrip the country’s ability to produce it.

The port is therefore looking at fostering relationships to be able to import green hydrogen and Mr Hoolwerf named the UK, Ireland, Iberian peninsular, Middle East and North Africa as potential sources.

Coastlink

If you didn’t get an opportunity to join the action on Coastlink LIVE, don’t worry as the recording is now available to watch on demand.

Coastlink is a neutral pan-European network dedicated to the promotion of short sea and feeder shipping and the intermodal transport networks through the ports that support the sector.

The 2023 conference will take place from 3 to 4 May at the Port of LIverpool in the UK.

For more information and to book please visit the Coastlink website