Research: Amsterdam–Duisburg a promising route for supplying green hydrogen to European industry

The study shows that international hydrogen supply chains via Amsterdam and Duisburg are technically feasible. This creates a solid foundation for a reliable, scalable, and ultimately competitive supply of green hydrogen to European industry.

Europe is working towards a climate-neutral economy. As a result, demand for green hydrogen is expected to increase sharply in the coming years, especially in sectors where decarbonization is challenging, such as the chemical industry, steel production, and other energy-intensive industries. The research focused on potential supply routes between hydrogen production sites in Spain and Oman and industrial customers in the Rhine-Ruhr region via the ports of Amsterdam and Duisburg.

One route, multiple transport options

The researchers examined the entire chain: from production and maritime transport to storage, transshipment, and further distribution to industrial users. Both liquid hydrogen (LH₂) and liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC) were investigated as transport options. Both prove to be technically suitable for large-scale hydrogen transport.

A key conclusion is that hydrogen can be transported further into Europe from Amsterdam and Duisburg in various ways. Inland waterways, rail, road transport, and future hydrogen pipelines complement each other, making the route flexible and capable of growing with future hydrogen demand.

Ports connect hydrogen production and use

The study shows that ports are playing an increasingly important role in the energy transition. They bring together international producers of sustainable energy, storage locations, infrastructure, and industrial customers. In doing so, they form a crucial link between the production of green hydrogen and its use in industry.

The study also highlights that collaboration between seaports, inland ports, producers, logistics partners, and industrial customers is essential for building new international hydrogen supply chains.

“Thanks to the intensive collaboration with our strategic partners, we have seen concrete progress in recent years in the development of international hydrogen supply chains via our port. This study confirms that the corridor between Amsterdam and Duisburg is essential for realizing new import chains to Europe. In addition to further developing infrastructure and logistical solutions, it is now crucial to create investment certainty. This will allow market parties to scale up and accelerate the energy transition,” says Maurice Delattre, Regional Director of Port of Amsterdam.

At the same time, the study points to a significant challenge. Although infrastructure development is in full swing, many industrial customers remain hesitant. The main reasons are the current cost of hydrogen, the complexity of the transition, and uncertainty about future market developments.

“Logistics companies and ports have long been committed to developing new networks and logistical solutions for the green economy of the future. This study shows that many of the necessary building blocks for this are already available and can be deployed today,” says Johannes Eng of Duisburger Hafen AG.

The technology is there, now the market needs to follow

Hydrogen demand in the Rhine-Ruhr region is expected to grow from 870 to 1,170 kilotons in 2030 to 3,870 to 5,370 kilotons in 2045. More than 90% of this is expected to need to be imported. The availability of sufficient infrastructure is therefore crucial. Against this backdrop, both Port of Amsterdam and duisport are investing in hydrogen terminals, storage facilities, and distribution networks.

According to the researchers, the biggest challenge no longer lies with the technology. The next phase is mainly about creating sufficient demand, long-term offtake agreements, and investment security throughout the chain. Further cooperation between industry, logistics partners, ports, and governments is of great importance.

Promising route requires next step

The RE-Chain study shows that the route via Amsterdam and Duisburg is technically feasible and offers opportunities for large-scale supply of green hydrogen to European industry. The necessary infrastructure is being developed step by step. The greatest challenge now lies in creating sufficient demand and investment security so that new international hydrogen supply chains can actually scale up.