Gasunie, HES and Vopak to develop green hydrogen import terminal
Gasunie, HES International and Vopak will be working together to develop an import terminal for green ammonia as a hydrogen carrier.
Energy network operator Gasunie, bulk handling company HES and Vopak, which handles chemicals, oil, gases and liquified natural gas (LNG), have signed a head of terms.
The cooperation has been reported as a response to growing global demand for the import and storage of green energy. Work will be started on the basic design of the import terminal this quarter.
The terminal, which will operate on the Maasvlakte under the name ACE Terminal, will be operational from 2026. It aims to make a vital contribution to the import of hydrogen, an essential link in the hydrogen chain, alongside hydrogen production, transport and storage.
A reliable logistic chain is also essential for developing the market for green hydrogen and for achieving the climate goals for 2030 and 2050.
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Strategic location
At the intended location on Rotterdam’s Maasvlakte, vessels from all over the world can moor to discharge green ammonia and potentially blue ammonia in the initial phase.
Use can be made of the existing infrastructure and the logistic facilities of the Port of Rotterdam. The site also offers space for the development of an installation for converting ammonia into hydrogen.
In the future, this installation will be connected to the national hydrogen network of the Gasunie, that can serve the future hydrogen market in Northwestern Europe.
Joining forces
On the Maasvlakte, HES operates a strategic location with quayside capacity and direct access from the sea.
Gasunie has an infrastructure of existing storage tanks and a system of pipelines. Vopak, with six ammonia terminals around the world, has extensive experience in the safe storage of ammonia.
The partners hope to see a starting point established from which to realise the import location for green ammonia in Rotterdam within a few years.
The eventual investment decision still has to be taken, and will be based among others on customer contracts and the necessary permits, including an environmental impact assessment.
The principle of the joint force will be an independent and open access infrastructure, in which the partners will not own the green ammonia.
A market consultation procedure is soon to be launched, in which interested parties can announce their interest in the supply, storage and transhipment of green ammonia and hydrogen.
Initial discussions are underway with international market parties.
In addition to the production of green hydrogen in the Netherlands, there will also be demand in Northwestern Europe for the large-scale import of green hydrogen to meet future demand.
Green ammonia as a hydrogen carrier is trajected to play a vital role. Following bonding with nitrogen in the form of ammonia, hydrogen can be transported simply and safely in large volumes, and then stored and reconverted into green hydrogen.
Green ammonia is also immediately usable as CO2-free fuel for example for shipping or as a raw material for example for the production of fertiliser.
