Ireland/The Netherlands – Ireland’s largest bulk port, Shannon Foynes, and the Port of Rotterdam have inked a crucial agreement to develop a supply-chain corridor for exporting green hydrogen and renewable fuels into Europe.
The collaboration aims to harness the vast potential of offshore wind power in the west of Ireland to generate green hydrogen, a clean energy source produced through water electrolysis using renewable energy, thereby eliminating emissions.
The memorandum of understanding between the two ports centers around the establishment of an international green energy hub on the Shannon Estuary. This hub is anticipated to leverage the massive potential of Irish offshore wind, with the capability to generate an astounding 80 gigawatts of green electricity—over 10 times the current national requirement of Ireland.
The primary goal is to focus on market and trade development for substantial volumes of green hydrogen and its derivatives, such as ammonia and methanol. By 2030, proof-of-concept volumes are expected to be in play, showcasing the viability and scalability of the green hydrogen initiative.
Europe green hydrogen strategy
Europe’s ambitious green hydrogen strategy for 2030 aims to import 10 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen to be used in heavy industry and transport sectors traditionally reliant on fossil fuels. Rotterdam, already a frontrunner as Europe’s leading energy hub, plans to facilitate volumes of 40 million tonnes from across the world by 2050, a substantial portion of which can come from the abundant Atlantic resource.
