RH2INE location study
European RH2INE program: partnership between the Province of South Holland; the Ministry of Economics, Innovation, Digitalisation and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia; the ports of Rotterdam, Duisburg and Rheincargo.
Assigment
What are the potential transshipment locations in Rotterdam, Duisburg and Cologne for hydrogen used as fuel by barges?
Project summary
The international community is strongly committed to the development of hydrogen as a fuel for various modalities. This is corporated in among others the EU Green Deal. For the use of hydrogen in inland navigation, the RH2INE program is a concrete initiative to this end. As a start of the European RH2INE program, a study was initiated to prepare for investments in at least 3 hydrogen filling stations in 3 core inland ports in Germany and the Netherlands, located on the Rhine-Alps corridor between Rotterdam and Cologne. This kick-start study consisted of 4 coherent sub-studies that together formed a strategic roll-out plan. The first three studies mainly consisted of the elaboration of market scenarios and technical design. The fourth and final study was to identify potential transshipment locations for hydrogen used by barges as fuel. This fourth study was to propose potential transshipment facilities in Rotterdam, Duisburg and Cologne based on location criteria and space requirements. The study takes into account growth scenarios in which other modalities can also use the facilities. Also an investment plan for the various locations was included.
Our approach
The elaboration of this study is based on 3 essential elements. These are:
- A combination of BCI’s consulting expertise and available resources on all necessary requirements from a spatial, technical, operational and financial point of view.
- The use of building blocks from key projects carried out in similar environments for quick and thorough implementation.
- Application of existing company models for analysis, selection and translation into spatial requirements.
Detailed studies have been carried out on site requirements and space needs for hydrogen transshipment for inland navigation for three locations: Rotterdam, Duisburg and Cologne. Based on market development scenarios for inland navigation and other modalities, hydrogen demand scenarios for the near future were made for each refueling location, including assessment of combined use of the hydrogen refueling stations by other modalities (from a user and technical point of view). Safety and logistical aspects of these transfer locations were also considered. These components led to different location criteria for transshipment sites. Weighting criteria were drawn up in consultation with the commissioning parties, leading to recommendations for locations based on an assessment model. Finally, the additional investments required for the most preferential hydrogen filling station for each port were examined, including investment and operational costs.
Result
The results ultimately provided insights into:
- the most optimal transshipment technique for inland navigation (containers filled with hydrogen at a pressure of 200 - 500 Bar)
- the expected number of hydrogen-filled containers to be used for inland navigation in the medium and longer term in the various ports (using different scenarios)
- the facilities needed for hydrogen transshipment for inland navigation
- the impact on logistics
- additional investments needed
Because container transshipment techniques are already present in the ports at the container terminals, not much additional investments are needed for transshipment. Also, this transshipment technique fits well with the logistics operations of container ships in particular. However, safety measures must be taken into account, as hydrogen is a hazardous substance.
With the results, the partners within the RH2INE program were able to define follow-up actions to be able to take follow-up steps towards the realization of hydrogen-powered barges. The report can be found at: https://www.rh2ine.eu/