The Netherlands – The Port of Rotterdam Authority has published a position paper with concrete policy recommendations to materialize hydrogen imports in response to the European Commission’s REPowerEU programme.
By 2030, 20 million tons of green hydrogen should be in use. Half of that is made up of hydrogen imported from nations other than the EU. The Port of Rotterdam has produced the following policy suggestions in order to deliver on the REPowerEU plan and capitalize on Rotterdam’s status as a hydrogen center.
The European Commission presented the REPowerEU proposal on May 18, 2022, with the goal of reducing Europe’s reliance on Russian energy flows and facilitating the transition to the usage of renewable energy sources.
Recommendations
The recommendations include the creation of a clear and stimulating regulatory framework at the EU level in order to attract investments and provide legal certainty to EU and non-EU commercial operators. It also suggests that a strong hydrogen certification process for hydrogen imports be in place by the end of 2023 at the latest.
Another recommendation from the Port of Rotterdam Authority is to protect the creation of new, high-quality private hydrogen networks and private infrastructure for hydrogen carriers alongside the deployment of current gas infrastructure.
It also suggests providing flexibility to first-mover projects in order to encourage the deployment of much-needed import infrastructure based on a technology-neutral approach, as well as developing a coordinated approach toward energy exporting countries in order to match supply and demand.
The Authority also suggests that the cost gap between carbon-neutral solutions and CO2-emitting alternatives be bridged.
