Rotterdam, Duisburg seek to establish hydrogen corridor

The ports of Duisburg in Germany and Rotterdam in the Netherlands are strengthening their cooperation to establish a hydrogen corridor that will help meet demand for hydrogen and its derivatives in Germany's industrial Ruhr region which is projected to grow significantly.

A feasibility study, conducted on behalf of the two port operators, highlights the importance of the two ports in serving the growing industry demand for hydrogen and its derivatives. The study highlights that a substantial increase in demand for low-carbon hydrogen to more than 3 million tonnes annually by 2045 is expected in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia where the Ruhr region is located. Demand for methanol is estimated to exceed 2.5 million tonnes per year by then.

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According to the results of the study, the first hydrogen pipeline between the two ports should be completed by 2027 and followed by pipelines for the transport of hydrogen derivatives and carbon dioxide in order to meet the growing demand for green hydrogen in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Inland shipping and rail transport are also seen as key elements in establishing a hydrogen value chain and enabling imports.

Therefore, port operator Duisport and the Port of Rotterdam aim to serve as mediators between politics, industry and other stakeholders in the hydrogen market in order to better coordinate supply and demand and accelerate necessary investments and subsidies. The two ports are supported by the Hy.Region.Rhein.Ruhr eV hydrogen initiative, which was co-founded by Duisport and the Port of Rotterdam has now joined it.

The cooperation is also backed by Dutch hydrogen and methanol producer OCI Global which is working with both ports to prove that the planned hydrogen corridor between Rotterdam and Duisburg offers good conditions to meet the high demand from the industrial cluster in the Ruhr area for low-carbon and renewable hydrogen.