Ports of Rotterdam and Duisburg set to develop hydrogen networks

A large rise in demand for low-carbon hydrogen of more than 3 million tonnes annually is predicted in North Rhine-Westphalia until 2045.

Methanol consumption is also predicted to rise dramatically, reaching more than 2.5 million tonnes per year.

The Port of Duisport and the Port of Rotterdam are working with governmental and corporate entities to match supply and demand and speed up investment and subsidy decision-making.

The ports are supported by the hydrogen initiative Hy.Region.Rhein.Ruhr e.V., co-founded by Duisport, which the Port of Rotterdam has now also joined.

OCI Global runs the Port of Rotterdam’s only ammonia import terminal, which it is upgrading to increase its throughput capacity in anticipation of rising demand.

OCI also operates a methanol import terminal and, earlier this year, the company announced two new green methanol partnerships in the Port of Rotterdam: with Unibarge to develop the world’s first dual-fuelled bunker barge powered by OCI HyFuels green methanol, and with X-Press Feeder Lines to supply green methanol for their newbuild methanol dual-fuelled container feederships.

Both projects are scheduled to be deployed next year.

Last June, OCI said it was fuelling the first ever green methanol-powered containership in partnership with Maersk.