The Port of Sweden is planning a hydrogen production plant and fuel
Port of Gothenburg, Sweden is the latest European port that wants to develop a hydrogen infrastructure to produce and deliver the emerging energy source. As an intermodal hub for Scandinavian port officials, they believe that there is already strong demand and that the creation of a local hydrogen production plant will continue to grow the clean energy source.
The Port of Gothenburg Board and the Norwegian energy company Statkraft agreed to make a more in-depth investigation of the potential for an intermediate warehouse and filling station in the Port of Gothenburg. A feasibility study is currently underway, focusing mainly on safety aspects. It is expected to be ready in early 2022.
“The Port of Gothenburg is Scandinavia’s largest port and as a hub for transport by sea, railways and roads, it operates a wide range of heavy goods handling equipment. Hydrogen has the potential to replace fossil-based diesel for all this equipment, says Arvid Guthed, Vice President, Port Development, at the Port of Gothenburg.
The planned plant will have an initial capacity of four MW and produce up to two tonnes of hydrogen per day. This corresponds to 2,200 liters of diesel and can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by at least four tonnes per day. Capacity can be increased if demand increases and new areas of use emerge.
“We know that there is already a significant demand in and around the port for the use of hydrogen-powered equipment. A number of companies and organizations are ready and waiting and we are convinced that local hydrogen production would be a breakthrough,” says Guthed.
Sweden’s goal is to reduce emissions from domestic transport by 70 percent by 2030. According to the Fossil-Free Sweden Hydrogen Gas Strategy, published in January 2021, the hydrogen projects planned in Sweden are currently achieving a reduction of just over 30 percent of Sweden’s total national carbon dioxide emissions. Like many countries, Sweden’s plans call for increased use of clean energy sources as a means of combating harmful emissions.
Efforts to explore hydrogen are also under way in other major ports in northern Europe, including Rotterdam and in Belgium, Denmark, Germany and the United Kingdom.