Industrial gases firm Air Products and commodity trader Gunvor have signed an agreement to develop an ammonia import terminal in Rotterdam, with an existing site owned by the latter being evaluated as a potential location.

“Gunvor is pleased to be partnering with Air Products through Nyera, our investment vehicle dedicated to supporting the energy transition, in order to leverage strategic locations such as our Rotterdam facility in a way that advances the development of sustainable and renewable energy initiatives,” says Shahb Richyal, global head of portfolio at Gunvor.

The firms say they will import green ammonia, convert it into hydrogen and distribute it to markets within Europe—including the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

They are seeking for the project to be recognised as an Important Project of Common European Interest under the funding scheme run by the European Commission.

20mn t/yr – Hydrogen imports contracted by Port of Rotterdam

“Air Products, the largest hydrogen producer in the world, is committed to contribute to both ambitions by accelerating the development of the European green hydrogen economy,” says Ivo Bols, Air Products’ president of Europe and Africa.

The terminal will be connected to Dutch gas network operator Gasunie’s planned hydrogen pipeline backbone in the Netherlands. Gasunie started construction on the network this week and aims to bring the pipeline that will form the main part of the backbone into operation by the second quarter of 2024.

“We believe that hydrogen will play a major role as the energy carrier of the future,” says Han Fennema, CEO of Gasunie.

“We now start the construction of the public hydrogen network in the Netherlands, which will be a great boost for the transition towards a more sustainable energy system.”

Gaining hub status

The Australian state of Queensland has already signed a deal to send 20mn t/yr of hydrogen to the Port of Rotterdam by 2050. Imports will start with ammonia in 2025.

The port last year also completed a joint study with Iceland’s national power company, Landsvirkjun, on the feasibility of shipping green hydrogen from Iceland to the Netherlands. The Port of Rotterdam has also signed an import deal with the Port of Corpus Christi in the US.

BP and Dutch hydrogen development company Hycc agreed in February to accelerate plans for a 250MW green hydrogen project at Rotterdam’s Maasvlakte port extension, following the completion of a feasibility study. The project will feed BP’s Rotterdam refinery and other industrial consumers in the area.

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Author: Tom Young