Port of Rotterdam explores options to crack ammonia into hydrogen

A consortium led by the Port of Rotterdam is looking into setting up an ammonia cracking facility in the port area that can use imported ammonia to produce 1 million mt/year of hydrogen.

PHOTO: Oil refinery and storage tanks in the Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands. Getty Images

The Port of Rotterdam predicts that ammonia will be widely used to produce hydrogen in the northwest European region, primarily because it is much simpler to transport than hydrogen.

The consortium has launched a feasibility study on a possible cracking facility. It expects to release the initial findings of these studies by early next year.

“Europe will need large amounts of hydrogen to reach its climate objectives and a significant share of this can be imported via the Port of Rotterdam,” the port's chief executive Allard Castelein said.

Several market participants consider ammonia to be a good hydrogen carrier with an established supply chain.

The 18-member consortium includes oil supermajors such as BP, ExxonMobil and Shell, in addition to Port of Rotterdam.

By Nithin Chandran

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