Green hydrogen export study planned

Landsvirkjun, the National Power Company of Iceland, and the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands signed the MoU for a green hydrogen export study. According to the MOU, the parties also agree to the exchange of knowledge, with the aim of exploring new opportunities of cooperation related to hydrogen. Earlier this month, the Port of Rotterdam Authority announced its participation in a study looking at the practical aspects of how a hydrogen exchange could be set up in the Netherlands

Allard Castelein, CEO Port of Rotterdam Authority, said: “Northwest Europe will need to import large volumes of hydrogen to become CO2-neutral. Rotterdam is currently Europe’s main energy hub. We expect hydrogen to take on the position oil has today, as an energy carrier as well as feedstock for the industry. We are therefore exploring the possibilities to import hydrogen from countries that have the potential to produce large volumes of green hydrogen at a competitive price, like Iceland.”

Recently, Landsvirkjun announced the feasibility-study of developing a hydrogen production facility at the Ljósifoss Hydropower Station, about 70 km outside of Reykjavík. The production will be carbon-free, through the electrolysis of water with renewable power. This carbon-free method of producing hydrogen is still too uncommon, with most of the world’s hydrogen supply currently produced from natural gas with its respective carbon footprint.

The Port of Rotterdam has developed an ambitious hydrogen masterplan, with which it aims to become the major import hub for hydrogen to supply to Europe’s changing energy consumers. The port has also been invited by the Dutch government to identify future sources of green hydrogen for Europe.