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Strategy and research

11 May 2021
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If the port's future is to be successful, it is important that companies in the port and the shipping industry can continue to develop, but in doing so they must consider the impact on the climate. This requires, among other things, new technology, new earning models and new partnerships.

Working on sustainable industry and transport

Within the next thirty years, the Netherlands' ambition is to achieve CO2-neutral energy management and a fully circular industry. Soon, oil, natural gas and coal will no longer be used as energy sources or raw materials.

The energy transition strategy towards a CO2 neutral and circular port rests on four pillars: 

  • Pillar 1: increasing the efficiency of existing industry, and building (extra) infrastructure for heat, CO2, electricity and hydrogen.
  • Pillar 2: renewing the energy system by switching from fossil fuels to green electricity and hydrogen. 
  • Pillar 3: moving to a new materials and fuel system. 
  • Pillar 4: making transport more sustainable.

The ongoing projects within the pillars and the production of hydrogen and biofuels collectively provide a CO2 reduction of 23 million tonnes. This equates to 35% of the total Dutch CO2 reduction target for 2030 (65 million tonnes).

EFFICIENCY AND INFRASTRUCTURE PILLAR 1 A NEW ENERGY SYSTEM PILLAR 2 A NEW RAW MATERIAL AND FUEL SYSTEM PILLAR 3 (-20% in 2030) SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT PILLAR 4 CO2 NEUTRAL IN 2050 - 55% CO2 IN 2030 ENERGY TRANSITION: BASED ON 4 PILLARS

Cluster Energy Strategy Rotterdam-Moerdijk Key Projects

The timely development of the infrastructure for the energy system of the future is crucial. Cluster Energy Strategy (CES) Rotterdam-Moerdijk is working on 8 key projects:

  1. Hydrogen import and transport infrastructure
  2. The Delta Corridor pipeline infrastructure to Chemelot and Germany
  3. Electricity grid reinforcement and new cable landings from offshore wind farms
  4. Infrastructure for transport and sub-sea storage of CO2
  5. Heat pipelines from industry
  6. Infrastructure for the H-vision project, for low-carbon hydrogen production
  7. Shore-based power systems for seagoing vessels
  8. Hydrogen transport infrastructure between the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany

Studies towards CO2-neutral industry

Since 2016, three reports have been published showing that CO2-neutral industry and shipping are possible. And how the port can work towards it. The first two are studies by the Wuppertal Institute (2016 and 2018). The third is the report of the Regional Industry Table Rotterdam-Moerdijk (2018) as a contribution to the National Climate Agreement. It describes how industry can switch to CO2-neutral production methods.