Hydrogen Central

European Hydrogen Valley status for Flemish Ports

european hydrogen valley flemish ports

European Hydrogen Valley status for Flemish ports.

Port of Antwerp-Bruges, North Sea Port and Port of Ostend have officially been recognised as a ‘Hydrogen Valley’ at the European level. That status is granted to a geographical area that houses a complete hydrogen value chain – from production to distribution, storage and local end-use in different sectors.

The three ports are complementary in their activities, and therefore have a unique starting position for the roll-out of the hydrogen economy. For example, they combine steel and chemical industrial clusters with energy hub functions and offshore renewable energy production.

Due to their geographical location, they act as a gateway to a European network of inland waterways, railways, pipelines and road connections. Therefore the ‘Flemish Hydrogen Ports Valley’ has all the assets to take on a crucial role in the European hydrogen economy.

Decarbonisation 
Several projects are already being developed and realised in the area for the production of green and low-carbon hydrogen and derived molecules. In addition to decarbonising the existing demand in the local chemical industry, this hydrogen will also be used in steel production, shipping and road transport, among other things. The first demonstrations of these new applications have already been realised.

European Hydrogen Backbone
In the near future,  local production will be combined with large-scale international import and transit of low-carbon molecules, to supply clean hydrogen to customers both locally and in the hinterland, via the open access European Hydrogen Backbone.

Continental network
The European Union sees Hydrogen Valleys as a strong tool to show how the hydrogen economy works at the local level. These local hydrogen economies can then be connected to form a continental network in the future. Ports have a unique potential in this respect: up to 42% (22 Mt, or 730 TWh) of the total hydrogen demand in the EU in 2050 could be located in port areas according to a study.

Hydrogen valley platform
The  ‘Hydrogen valley’ certificate was issued by  the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and Mission Innovation who maintain an online map with the main characteristics of the Hydrogen Valleys in Europe and the world – the  hydrogen valley platform.

The Flemish Hydrogen Ports Valley is coordinated by knowledge and collaboration platform WaterstofNet, as coordinator of the Hydrogen Industry Cluster of which all ports involved are members.

READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central

European Hydrogen Valley status for Flemish ports, July 12, 2023

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