Due to its position as Europe’s largest chemical cluster and its key role in the international logistics chain, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges is crucial for accelerating the market development of green hydrogen and other hydrogen-carrying molecules. As such, the port is a great match for the idea behind and goals of H2Global.

The H2Global foundation developed a competition-based double-auction mechanism. Its subsidiary HINT.CO acts as an intermediary and auctions both green hydrogen and its derivatives at the lowest possible price. It then sells the green hydrogen in Germany and Europe to the highest bidder.

“As an energy hub, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges is one of the places where the energy transition becomes evident in several activities: from terminal handling and storage to our transmission and distribution network,” explains the Port of Antwerp-Bruges CEO Jacques Vandermeiren. “By making massive investments, we are aiming for climate neutrality by 2050. Together with our partners in the Hydrogen Import Coalition, among others, and the major players involved in our port platform, we are already supporting projects that pursue the production, transport and storage of hydrogen.”

“It is our port’s ambition to become the green port of the future and the energy gateway to Europe,” adds Annick De Ridder, port alderman and chairperson of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges board of directors. “As an active pioneer of the hydrogen economy, we have made great strides over the past 2 years, embedded in fruitful collaborations both locally and internationally.”

“Because the hydrogen chain is complex, we have, for example, joined forces in a Hydrogen Import Coalition with five major industrial players and public stakeholders,” she adds. “We are also focusing on concrete projects that will shape the production, transport and storage of hydrogen. In the coming years, hydrogen projects, for instance those in collaboration with Chile and Oman, will be further developed – and we will also start the construction of the Hyoffwind hydrogen plant.”

Today, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges is already introducing alternative energy sources like hydrogen and converting them into sustainable raw materials and fuel for the port’s chemical industry. The port will also play a vital role in the import and local production of green hydrogen. The first production of green hydrogen will start in 2023 with large volumes of green molecules arriving from overseas in 2025-2027.

“The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is leading the way when it comes to green hydrogen logistics and production in Europe,” says Markus Exenberger, CEO of H2Global. “The fact that the port is so committed to both our foundation and the rapid creation of a hydrogen market in Europe shows just how important instruments like this are for the European economic area.”