In the week of May 4, 2020 in which Europe started to socially and economically unlock,  the ports of Cologne and Rotterdam announced important developments that could stir a breakthrough in hydrogen production and deployment. The port of Cologne (Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln AG ) owned by Stadtwerke Köln GmbH, the energy and water distribution company of the City of Cologne is finalizing its take-over of the inland shipping operations of Imperial Logistics International B.V. & Co. KG (ILI). In this way Cologne seeks to expand its logistics operations with actual shipping operations to and fro the ZARA Seaports (Zeebrugge, Antwerpen, Rotterdam, Amsterdam). This reflects “Synergy” between energy and transport networks in the making that EHA is supporting in the TSO2020 and the recently kickstarted RH2INE initiative.

On May 7 2020, the port of Rotterdam together with national gas network operator Gasunie and SHELL laid out its plans for a major green hydrogen production site (2GW “Conversion Park”) and a network of pipelines (decision expected by 2021) that will stretch out towards Germany in view of the expected need of German imports of green hydrogen. Also a blue hydrogen production plant (HVision) could become part of this Rotterdam Hydrogen Hub.

Photo: courtesy Port of Rotterdam