H₂ Hubs and Infrastructure

R. WETERINGS, Port of Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Rotterdam has a well-earned reputation as Europe’s hydrogen (H₂) hub, built on its position as one of the continent’s most important energy gateways. Around 13% of Europe’s energy demand flows through the Port of Rotterdam, placing it in a unique position to help shape a fully integrated H₂ ecosystem, spanning production, import, storage, transport and industrial offtake.

Supported by a new large-scale H₂ pipeline network, existing import terminals for H₂ carriers such as ammonia, methanol and new developments around liquid H₂ (LH₂) and liquid organic H₂ carriers (LOHCs), the Port of Rotterdam is strategically positioned to serve as Europe’s landing point for large volumes of green and low-carbon H₂.

Aligning visions with wider Europe. Rotterdam aims to maintain its position as Europe’s leading sustainable energy port by developing infrastructure that supports the decarbonization of existing energy flows and by bolstering low-carbon H₂ production, imports and onward distribution to industrial clusters in Northwest Europe.

This ambition marries up with the European H₂ corridor vision and is fully aligned with Rotterdam’s 2050 climate neutral and integrated energy transition strategic plans.

Key to this is the Netherlands’ national H₂ network, which is set to become operational later this year. Its starting point is at the Port of Rotterdam, eventually connecting to Germany and Belgium to form a regional H₂ hub in the early 2030s. In the meantime, the H₂ carriers will be shipped by inland waterways.

The wider Rotterdam metropolitan region is also accelerating decarbonization through major carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiatives, such as the Porthos project, and at Maasvlakte—a facilitator of large-scale offshore wind to H₂ conversion. These projects form a multisector industrial transition system integrating H₂, CCS, circular chemistry and clean fuels, mirroring European goals for a productive and future-proof cross-border H₂ economy.

The Port of Rotterdam brings all of this together to create an attractive environment for investment in decarbonization and other pioneering, sustainable initiatives.

The new projects shaping the Port’s future. The construction of large renewable H₂ plants in Netherlands’ second largest city is already at full steam with the likes of Shell’s flagship 200-MW Holland H₂ 1 plant, expected to produce up to 80 tons per day (tpd) of H₂, and Air Liquide’s ELYgator project which is to generate 23,000 tons annually (tpy) – both of which are directly linking producers to industrial customers. Currently being built, the Porthos project also aims to store 2.5 MMtpy of CO₂ captured from industry in the port.

These significant early projects embed H₂ into fuel production, refining, fertilizer and chemical processes and emphasize how low-carbon H₂ production will play a hugely important role in accelerating the H₂ economy domestically and internationally, acting as a blueprint across the continent.

By the mid-2030s, integrated H₂ import terminals, large-scale bunkering (including green ammonia) and a fully connected Dutch-Belgian-German H₂ network will enable industrial clusters to significantly replace natural gas and gray H₂ with low-carbon and renewable H₂.

Fast forward to 2050 and we envisage that Rotterdam will be a fully climate-neutral port, with H₂ and its derivates acting as the principal feedstock and fuel for chemicals, steel making, heavy transport, maritime logistics and power generation. H₂’s share in the Port’s energy and feedstock flows is expected to grow exponentially, with imported volumes dominating supply.

Key infrastructure construction is being conducted with significant attention to community impacts and ensuring that the region remains fully accessible too. As well as contributing towards the region’s economic prosperity, being Europe’s H₂ hub will also fundamentally reshuffle the skills mix in Rotterdam’s industrial region.

According to MKB Rotterdam, an institute for medium- and small-enterprises, the energy transition is already generating substantial workforce demand with expectations of 10,000–15,000 new jobs emerging from transition related infrastructure and energy projects in the coming years. H₂ acts as a catalyst for sustainable employment, reinforcing Rotterdam’s position as a robust industrial employer while fostering the next generation of skills in clean energy technologies.

About the author

RANDOLF WETERINGS has been with the Port of Rotterdam for more than 10 yrs and as a corporate strategy program manager H₂ is responsible for leading the New Energy System program, the second pillar of its energy transition strategy. He earned an MS and BS in engineering, alongside more than 15 yrs of industry experience in the energy sector. Port of Rotterdam are partners of The World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition, organized by RX Global, taking place between 19-21 May. To find out more, and register to attend, visit: https://www.world-hydrogen-summit.com/world/en-gb.html