Green hydrogen imports to the major industrial regions in Germany via Rotterdam

GTS starts direct rail connection between Bari and Rotterdam

The Port of Rotterdam Authority strengthens its cooperation with DeltaPort Niederrheinhäfen,[1] enabling this group of inland ports in the northern Ruhr area to be a regional hub for importing green hydrogen from the port of Rotterdam. The two parties signed the declaration of intent earlier today. Other signatories included German companies Thyssengas, energy company Eon, cold store operator Nordfrost, and regional development company Kreis Wesel.

Green hydrogen can play a valuable role in the energy transition, which in turn is indispensable for meeting the Paris Climate Agreement objectives. Like the Netherlands, Germany will have to import hydrogen if it is serious about meeting the expected rising demand for green hydrogen.

DeltaPort considers the partnership an excellent opportunity to combine activities and integrate these with the hydrogen strategy of North Rhine-Westphalia. ‘The significance of this project goes way beyond our region,’ said Andreas Pinkwart (FDP), Minister of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitisation, and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia when the declaration was signed. The H2UB DeltaPort project is focused on the supply of hydrogen for regional users in the Wesel and Kleve districts.

Emile Hoogsteden, Commercial Director at the Port of Rotterdam Authority, explains that ‘there are two essential projects that make this partnership interesting to the Port Authority. In the first place, we see splendid opportunities for becoming a hub in the supply and transit of green hydrogen. After all, there are many competent parties in the region that are highly interested in this clean energy carrier.

If locally produced hydrogen is insufficient to meet demand, hydrogen can be imported via Rotterdam. Inland shipping and rail have a central role in this context. Secondly, we want to help to develop a Cool Corridor, a regular inland shipping connection for reefer containers between Rotterdam and the Ruhr area.

With Nordfrost’s investment in a new center for refrigeration logistics that can run on clean energy, we can help develop emission-free inland shipping connections with the deep-sea terminals in Rotterdam. You can compare it with the Alphenaar which acts like a shuttle between Alphen aan den Rijn and Moerdijk for beer brewery Heineken.’

Between Bari and Rotterdam

On another side, Italian rail traction provider and operator General Transport Service (GTS) has started a direct rail shuttle between Rotterdam and Bari, in the south of Italy. The train departs north on Saturdays and reaches its destination within 72 hours.

GTS was founded in 1977 and is now led by CEO Alessio Muciaccia. The company started its first national train in 1992 and has had rails internationally since 2007. At the moment 40 intermodal national trains per week are operated on Adriatic lines and another 20 on Tirrenic lines. Internationally GTS connects Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany by more than 40 trains per week, also reaching the UK, Ireland, Turkey, and Greece via ferry services. The company operates 23 locomotives, over 400 railway wagons, and nearly 3000 45 ft containers. GTS employs over 200 people and is headquartered in Bari.