Tasmania partners with Port of Rotterdam for green hydrogen

The Tasmanian Liberal Government and the Port of Rotterdam have agreed to jointly investigate the feasibility of future exports of green hydrogen from Bell Bay to the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Tasmania aims to produce green hydrogen domestically in the near term and be an exporter by 2027 and lodged a funding submission for Bell Bay to be a renewable hydrogen hub as part of the Australian government’s $464 million regional programs.

Tasmania can produce 100% renewable electricity that can be used for green hydrogen production. The Port of Rotterdam is Europe’s largest port with plans to become a major green hydrogen import hub with hydrogen supply chains into North-West Europe.

Allard Castelein, CEO of Port of Rotterdam, said, “Once we have jointly established the feasibility, the next step would be to get private companies aligned to try to set up trade lanes between Tasmania and Rotterdam.”

Mrs Marion Derckx, the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Australia, commented, “The Memorandum of Understanding between Tasmania and the Netherlands signifies an important step in our mutual ambitions to accelerate the transition towards a non-carbon energy society.”

Early this month,  Nexsphere announced to develop an offshore wind energy project in the Bass Strait. Bass Strait has been identified as one of the top options for offshore wind energy generation in the country by the national Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre. These projects also complement Project Marinus, Battery of the Nation, and the government plans to supply renewable energy for an emerging green hydrogen industry to be based out of the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone.