Shannon Foynes Port Company, which operates Ireland's largest bulk-port and the Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, have signed an agreement to develop a supply-chain corridor for exporting green hydrogen into Europe.

The hydrogen is to be generated from Ireland’s limitless west coast wind resource.

In an agreement, this will focus on market and trade development for vast volumes of green hydrogen and its derivatives produced at the planned international green energy hub on the Shannon Estuary, where SFPC operate six marine terminals along the waterway.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the ports identifies significant and identified scale-up volumes of Green Hydrogen commencing with proof-of-concept volumes by 2030.

Europe’s overall green hydrogen strategy for 2030 is to import 10 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen by 2030 for use in heavy industry and transport sectors that are traditionally reliant on coal, natural gas, and oil. The Port of Rotterdam intends to facilitate volumes of 40 million tonnes from across the world by 2050, a significant proportion of which can come from the Atlantic resource.

Further opportunities will also be explored under the MOU, including building coalitions with interested and suitable commercial parties and adding other parties to the MOU to help achieve a joint supply chain process for delivering the first proof-of-concept volumes before 2030.

The MoU also provides for engaging relevant public stakeholders to support the initiative and sharing of information regarding the potential supply of green hydrogen and green hydrogen derivatives, such as green ammonia, green methanol, etc, as well as sharing best practice information on areas such as desalination, high voltage electricity, industrial clustering around the H2 molecule and green ship bunkering processes.

The two ports will also potentially work together on market development in this new market and jointly finding final off-takers for supplies from Ireland. These would include maritime fuels sector, sustainable aviation fuels, green fertilizer and facilities with direct green hydrogen fuel requirements such as the steel industry.

The Director International at the Port of Rotterdam Mr. René van der Plas said the port of Rotterdam is "already Europe’s leading energy hub and recognises the significance and opportunity for all European citizens and industries arising from the Green Transition. Hydrogen is one of our priorities and we are working hard towards establishing infrastructure, facilities and partnerships that will help deliver on this".

He added “This agreement with Shannon Foynes Port is one such partnership and can support our efforts to set up supply chain corridors for the import of Green Hydrogen into north-west Europe from countries elsewhere with high potential for green and low carbon hydrogen production. Shannon Foynes Port is an ideal partner in that respect.”

Commenting on the joint-port agreement, CEO of Shannon Foynes Port Company, Mr Patrick Keating said, “With the largest wind resource in Europe off our west coast, we have the opportunity to become Europe’s leading renewable energy generation hub. That will deliver transformational change for Ireland in terms of energy independence and an unprecedented economic gain in the process".

"In delivering on this, too, we can make our biggest ever contribution to the European project as we become a very significant contributor to REPowerEU, Europe’s plan to end reliance on fossil fuels.“We can produce an infinite supply of renewable energy here and there are already a number of routes to market emerging for that energy. One such route to market is the development of a supply chain into Europe. This agreement with the Port of Rotterdam is a key step towards enabling that."

He added "Already, the port of Rotterdam works on introducing the fuels and feedstocks of the future with major oil and gas companies and its broader port community of over 3,000 commercial companies.It can be a key supply chain corridor for exporting green fuels from the Shannon Estuary into Europe. This is very significant recognition and validation of the potential for hydrogen production generated in Ireland to be exported into Europe.”

The estuary is Ireland’s deepest sheltered commercial harbour operated by Shannon Foynes Port which in addition to been the largest bulk port ,has statutory jurisdiction over all marine activities on the 500km2 waterway, stretching from Kerry to Loop Head to Limerick City.  

 

 

The European Sea Ports Organisation congratulates the Port of Rotterdam for being recertified through the EcoPorts’ environmental management standard (PERS) Port Environmental Review System.

The Port of Rotterdam is a long-standing member of the EcoPorts network, having joined in 2004, and is now certified for the fifth time under PERS.

Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO Secretary General, commented: “It is very important for the EcoPorts network to have Europe’s number one port participating and engaging. Applying for certification for such a big port complex is a big effort. Congratulations to the Port and to those getting the file ready for recertification.”

Valter Selén, ESPO Senior Policy Advisor and EcoPorts Coordinator, said: “We are very happy to once again congratulate the Port of Rotterdam on their recertification with EcoPorts PERS.

As the largest port in Europe, and one of the leaders in environmental management and sustainability, their PERS certification is testament to the continued relevance and added value of PERS as a crucial environmental management tool for different types of ports. We look forward to having Rotterdam continue their sustainability efforts as a member of the EcoPorts Network.”

PERS is the only port-specific environmental standard. The last five years have seen important increases in its recognition and membership, with 102 ports from 25 countries currently counting themselves as part of the EcoPorts Network, and 32 ports holding PERS certification.

Compliance with the EcoPorts’ PERS standard is independently assessed by Lloyd’s Register and the certificate has a validity of two years. EcoPorts’ PERS is revised after the 2-year period to make sure that the port continues to meet the requirements.

For more information on EcoPorts’ PERS click here.

The Port of Rotterdam has been congratulated from the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) for renewing its EcoPorts’ Port environmental Review system (PERS), the only port sector specific environmental management standard.

Being PERS certified requires amongst others that the port increases transparency by making its environmental report publicly available. It also implies that the port is effectively monitoring environmental challenges and is actively improving its environmental management. A significant share of the 112 EcoPorts members have acquired PERS, compliance of which is independently assessed by Lloyd’s Register. The certificate has a validity of two years, after which it is revised. This ensures that the port continues to meet the requirements.

“It is no secret that the Port of Rotterdam is in many ways a frontrunner when it comes to engagements in environmental sustainability. By renewing its PERS certification the Port of Rotterdam proves that transparency and monitoring of environmental performance are important tools of its environmental commitment. It also shows its support for the Ecoports network and its tools. Every port adhering to the network and attaining PERS certification strengthens the network. We are very grateful to have Rotterdam on board ESPO’s most important bottom up initiative,” says ESPO’s Secretary General, Isabelle Ryckbos

“The renewal of the PERS certificate by the Port of Rotterdam is an important signal that the only port-specific standard available is well recognised and preferred by the port sector. It also shows that major European ports are committed to working with relevant applicable environmental management systems (EMS). To have a port’s environmental performance certified by environmental standards such as PERS factors in when insurance companies calculate premiums, and is evidence of port’s continued efforts to contribute to the greening of the supply chain,” says EcoPorts Coordinator, Valter Selén.

You can find more information about EcoPorts’ PERS here.