NS H2V Ports

North Sea Hydrogen Valley Ports

Hydrogen will play a central role in decarbonising the port industry as well as the maritime sector, with ports acting as central hubs for the promotion of H2 production and the import/export of renewable energy sources.

The "North Sea Hydrogen Valley Ports" project is supported by EU funds under the INTERREG North Sea programme and aims to establish ports as central hubs for green hydrogen (H2) and Power-to-X (PtX) fuels such as methanol and ammonia. 

The consortium consists of various partners from industry, science and public administration who are working together to coordinate strategies and develop concrete plans for future phases of the project. These plans include the planning of future hydrogen infrastructure in four North Sea ports: Brest, Esbjerg, Bremerhaven and Den Helder. The project follows a bottom-up approach and involves all relevant stakeholders of the port systems. A central aspect is the development of a pioneering "Port Hydrogen Valley Master Plan", intended to serve as a model for other European ports.

ISL plays an essential role within this consortium, focusing on the management of hydrogen-based energy carriers and the integration of hydrogen-based technologies within the ports. This includes initiatives such as port operations, the design of innovative vessels with alternative propulsion systems, and the establishment of corresponding bunker infrastructure.

Project objective:

• Development of a "Port Hydrogen Valley Master Plan" as a guideline for European ports to establish an efficient hydrogen economy.
• Establishing a network for the exchange of expertise and experience between ports and other relevant stakeholders.
• Promote the handling of green hydrogen (H2) and Power-to-X (PtX) fuels in ports and introduce new technologies for port operations and ship designs.
• Contributing to the European energy transition and climate protection through the implementation of hydrogen technologies in the maritime industry.