Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo has proposed a revision to his country’s hydrogen strategy that would focus on expanding port capacity for hydrogen and its carriers and the development of pipeline networks within Europe.

The original strategy was launched in 2021 with a focus on positioning Belgium as an import and transit hub for hydrogen. The new strategy increases the nation’s target for imports to 20TWh in 2030 and 350TWh in 2050—due to higher anticipated EU-wide and domestic demand than foreseen in 2021.

The revised strategy anticipates the total domestic demand for both hydrogen and its derivatives to reach 125–200 TWh/yr in Belgium by 2050. The EU increased its import targets earlier this year—saying it aims to import half of its planned 20mn t/yr of hydrogen consumption by 2030.

20TWh – New Belgian target for hydrogen imports by 2030

The government identifies three key import routes. The first will bring in hydrogen produced via offshore wind in the North Sea, with an ambition to collaborate with other countries surrounding the North Sea to synchronise development of offshore electricity and hydrogen networks.

The second route will involve piped imports from southern Europe, mainly Spain and Portugal, as well as North Africa. However, as the network of pipelines is likely to take many years to develop, the third route—shipping hydrogen and its derivatives—may be a temporary solution, according to the strategy.

“Together with all stakeholders from government and industry, we have developed a focused strategy built on all the know-how that Belgium has accumulated over the past decades,” says De Croo.

“We want to seize our potential to become a European leader in hydrogen, by ensuring the security of hydrogen supply by the second half of this decade, strengthening our technological leadership, developing a hydrogen market and turning Belgium into a leading, continental hub for hydrogen.”

The government is funding a network of hydrogen pipelines to connect Belgian ports to the country’s industrial areas and Germany by 2028.

The port of Antwerp-Bruges is expected to play a key role in imports, domestic production, processing and throughput of green hydrogen and hydrogen carriers such as ammonia and methanol to Europe. To support the import-focused strategy revision, the port will expand its existing capacity from 2026 and has already formed a hydrogen import coalition. The port will also be the site of a 100MW green hydrogen production plant to be constructed by US firm Plug Power.

The port of Zeebrugge will also see the construction of the 25MW Hyoffwind green hydrogen project, which is due to begin first production by 2023.

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Author: Polly Martin