Port of Antwerp joins 1st initiative in Belgium by collaborating with 7 leading players for hydrogen transport

ANTWERP: Hydrogen has an important role to play in the mix of applications for significantly reducing CO2 emissions.

That's why Deme, Engie, Exmar, Fluxys, Port of Antwerp, Port of Zeebrugge and WaterstofNet have teamed up. A joint study will form the basis for a number of concrete projects to produce, transport and store hydrogen.

Combining expertise

Generating sufficient renewable energy to produce hydrogen is crucial for the viability of a hydrogen economy. However, Belgium currently does not have enough wind or solar power to produce hydrogen, and so it will have to be imported.

Efficient, economic solutions for the import, transport and storage of hydrogen will demand specialist expertise.

The seven companies involved will combine their respective know-how so as to arrive at shared solutions and projects.

Roadmap for hydrogen as a form of energy

In the first phase the partners will carry out a joint analysis of the end-to-end chain of importation and transport of hydrogen. The objective is to map out the financial, technical and regulatory aspects of the various links in the supply chain, including production, loading/unloading and transport by sea and by pipeline. The results of the analysis will provide a roadmap showing the best way to carry hydrogen for the various applications in the energy and chemical sectors.

The analysis is expected to take around one year to complete.