H2SHIPS partner Port of Amsterdam organised two regional workshops in September 2020. Almost 50 companies related to ports and logistics discussed strategies to implement hydrogen as fuel for shipping and land-based transport.
The first regional workshop, held on 09/10/2020, was attended by 32 participants from 20 companies interested in using H2 for transport and logistics, both land side and waterside (barges and sea ships).
All companies are active in circular industry, logistics, transport and terminals in Amsterdam port region. The workshop’s goal was to build a regional group of front runners using hydrogen in transport. In this context, information about developments on hydrogen for transport and logistics in the region was shared, including plans for hydrogen refuelling stations for road and bunkering locations for shipping. This exchange showed that the market has trust in hydrogen as a future fuel for transport and logistics. Nonetheless, participants see serious challenges for the future:
- Standardization is needed for bunkering stations, both for land-based transport and shipping.
- Tank station for trucking in Amsterdam port region is important first result, but mid- to long-term a national network of hydrogen refuelling stations is needed. To this end, close cooperation with national government was whished.
- Grants and subsidies for clean transport in the Netherland focus mainly on electric transport and road transport. The focus needs to change towards shipping and H2, including H2 related fuels
- Because it is not clear what kind of H2 or other clean fuel will be the standard in shipping and transport, companies are reluctant to invest.
To progress the transition of inland shipping and the development of bunker stations and standards for inland shipping, close collaboration with RH2INE project will be sought.
The second stakeholder workshop on 09/29/2020 was attended by 28 port and transport related companies, including ship yards, energy companies, regional government representatives from the region of Port of Den Helder and northern parts of the Province of North Holland.
The workshop focused on the development of hydrogen as fuel for ports and shipping. Within the scope of the workshop a plan for the development of a hydrogen bunkering station in Port of Den Helder in close cooperation with the development of a hydrogen bunkering station in Port of Amsterdam was drafted. Additionally, three local initiatives for possible pilot hydrogen-powered ships (Royal Navy, Zaan, Daamen) were defined.
The participants saw a major challenge in developing enough demand for hydrogen in the region to make it profitable, whilst building a matching supply. Thus, to increase regional demand, more markets should be targeted, e.g. trucking, on terminal transport, local industry, shipping, local public transport, garbage trucks, and more. To establish a green hydrogen supply chain in the Province of North Holland a strategic and coordinated approach was proposed:
production (regional and import) => distribution (pipeline or truck) => bunkering and fueling points => market development
This approach askes for loose cooperation with relevant stakeholders (e.g. market, government and research institutes).
A further topic that came up during the workshops was to investigate possibilities of hydrogen related fuels or synthetic fuels like synthetic methanol based on H2 and CO2. The so called “H2 choice stress” prevents shipping companies to invest in pilots because it is not clear which hydrogen fuel or mix of fuel will be the standard. In addition, hydrogen as a fuel is still a financial challenge with a high CAPEX (investment in ship) and considerably higher OPEX (costs H2 compared to fossil fuels).
By the end of the second workshop it was agreed to organise a separate workshop with regional and local governments focussing on the challenge in regulations: the classification of the pilot ship, as well as regional and national regulations concerning environmental permits and bunkering permits, need to be discussed and agreed with the according regulatory bodies. Also, the possibility for Dutch investment fund program (DKTI III), that opens December 2020 and closes March 2021 will be discussed for funding possibilities of pilot ships, bunkering facilities, etc. Investigation in a joint regional program to address this fund.
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In case you want to know more or get in contact:
Jan Egbertsen - Port of Amsterdam
Jan.Egbertsen@portofamsterdam.com