Energy transition
22 January 2026
Reading time: 4 minutes
The energy and raw materials transition is a long-term process. However, we are and will remain committed to our goal of a CO2-neutral port by 2050. Which projects are really going to make a difference? View the current top 10 energy and raw materials transition projects, in no particular order.
- Air Liquide builds plant for green hydrogen
- Holland Hydrogen I: from wind to hydrogen
- HyCC announces H2Next green hydrogen project in Rotterdam
- Blue Circle Olefins chooses Rotterdam to build 100% circular Olefins plant
- Shore power gaining momentum: three milestones
- Porthos CO2 pipeline laid on seabed and entrenched
- Port of Rotterdam prepared for safe bunkering of ammonia following practical testing
- Last section of 32-kilometre hydrogen pipeline welded together
- Pioneers present the future of inland shipping: batteries on the water
- Samskip and port of Rotterdam work on liquid hydrogen powered vessels
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Air Liquide builds plant for green hydrogen
Air Liquide has started construction of ELYgator, a plant for the production of green (renewable) hydrogen. With a planned capacity of 200 MW, the plant is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2027. Photo: Martens Multimedia.
Holland Hydrogen I: from wind to hydrogen
Shell’s Holland Hydrogen 1 (HH1) has risen on the Maasvlakte. It is the first plant that will soon be able to supply green hydrogen to the hydrogen network, which is currently being built between the Maasvlakte and the Rotterdam Chemicals Park in Pernis.
HyCC announces H2Next green hydrogen project in Rotterdam
HyCC is developing a large-scale electrolyser in Rotterdam, called H2Next, to help increase the sustainability of industry.
Blue Circle Olefins chooses Rotterdam to build 100% circular Olefins plant
Blue Circle Olefins has selected Rotterdam as the site to develop a commercial Methanol-to-Olefins (MTO) production plant. If the facility becomes operational in 2030, it will reduce life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from plastics (PP, PE and PVC) by more than 80% compared to current fossil-based production processes.
Shore power gaining momentum: three milestones
Cruise Port Shore Power’s shore power installation for cruise ships docking in the centre of Rotterdam was officially opened in 2025. The municipality of Rotterdam and the Port of Rotterdam Authority also published a joint, updated shore power strategy. The ambitious strategy provides a clear roadmap for the next decade and focuses on accelerating the scale-up of shore power facilities in the port. At the beginning of 2026, Rotterdam Shore Power announced that ABB will be responsible for the construction and maintenance of shore power installations at three deepsea container terminals.
Porthos CO2 pipeline laid on seabed and entrenched
The installation of the approximately 20-kilometre-long offshore pipeline for the Porthos CO2 transport and storage project has been completed. The pipeline will transport captured CO2 from the Rotterdam port industry to storage reservoirs under the North Sea. The collecting pipeline through the port area is also already in the pipeline corridor.
Air Products has started the installation of CO2 capture modules for the HyCO4 hydrogen plant. Thanks to its connection to Porthos, Air Products can produce blue hydrogen, contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions in the port of Rotterdam, without compromising on industrial capacity.
Port of Rotterdam prepared for safe bunkering of ammonia following practical testing
Trammo, OCI and James Fisher Fendercare carried out ammonia transfers between two vessels at the quay of a terminal in the port of Rotterdam. It is an important step in preparing the port for vessels that will run on green ammonia in the future and want to bunker this fuel in the port of Rotterdam.
Last section of 32-kilometre hydrogen pipeline welded together
The hydrogen pipeline that will become part of the Dutch hydrogen network has been welded together. The route had to traverse roads, rail, water and hundreds of other pipelines and cables. The next phase is now underway in Rotterdam: testing, (pre)commissioning and preparations for putting it into service. The first step towards a national and European hydrogen network has been taken.
The hydrogen network will ultimately connect the large industrial regions in the Netherlands and surrounding countries such as Germany and Belgium. It will also have network connections to import terminals at seaports, Dutch hydrogen production and large-scale hydrogen storage facilities.
Pioneers present the future of inland shipping: batteries on the water
Zero Emission Services, Inland Terminals Group and Nedcargo are launching a unique collaboration. Together, they are making battery-electric sailing scalable and attractive for the entire supply chain.
Samskip and port of Rotterdam work on liquid hydrogen powered vessels
Shortsea shipping company Samskip is building two vessels that will run on liquid hydrogen from 2027. It is a first: these will be the first container ships worldwide to do this. The ambition is that vessels will soon be able to bunker liquid hydrogen in Rotterdam.
In our white paper, read how liquid hydrogen is produced and transported, and discover the latest developments in Rotterdam.
World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition
From 19 to 21 May, Rotterdam will once again stage the World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition. As a host sponsor, we support the global platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration on hydrogen.
