Rotterdam plans to develop import terminal for green fuels by 2026

The Port of Rotterdam plans to built an import facility in Maasvlakte, a location it says is easily accessible for vessels calling to discharge green ammonia or blue ammonia.

PHOTO: Proposed layout of the ACE terminal. Vopak

Dutch terminal operator Vopak and other operators Gasunie and HES International will join in to develop the import terminal - ACE Terminal - for green ammonia as a hydrogen carrier.

Ammonia can act as a natural hydrogen carrier as it is made up of hydrogen and nitrogen captured from the air, which is then combined through the Haber-Bosch process.

Among the benefits of ammonia is that it requires less cooling than hydrogen, which typically means it incurs lower storage and transport costs. It can be converted back to hydrogen at a later point.

The proposed terminal designs include a space allocated to an installation facility that will convert ammonia to hydrogen. The facility will eventually be connected to Gasunie's hydrogen network that will serve the northwest European market.

Vopak says the terminal will create a green hydroen supply chain that is vital to achieve net zero emission targets by 2050.

Work to design the terminal is expected to commence this quarter.