International hydrogen corridors to Rotterdam
In addition to this new hydrogen pipeline, Rotterdam is also investing heavily in the creation of international hydrogen corridors to Rotterdam. Northwest Europe uses more energy than it can sustainably generate on its own, so energy imports will continue to be necessary in the future. To become carbon-neutral, hydrogen will need to be imported on a large scale. The port of Rotterdam strives to be the number one port for the import of sustainable energy and to play a key role in the import and transit of hydrogen. It is keen to co-operate with other ports and is exploring the possibilities of importing hydrogen from countries where it can be produced cost effectively.
One such project is the work being done together with Pecém Industrial Port Complex in Brazil. Brazil is very progressive when it comes to green energy. The country gets about 80% of its electricity from renewables and offers plenty of opportunities for the transition to a sustainable economy. It is one of the countries that are likely to become exporters of green hydrogen. In February 2021, Pecém announced its ambition to become a world player in green hydrogen. Over the last few years, several Memorandums of Understanding have been signed with international companies that are interested in participating in the Green Hydrogen Hub in Pécem, making it a very promising venture. In the port of Rotterdam, many collaborating partners are already involved. All types of hydrogen carriers can already be handled in Rotterdam, with only liquid hydrogen still under development due to the novelty of this technology. The terminal capacity for (green) hydrogen is expected to increase substantially over the next years.