Wash2Emden

Motivation

In Northern Germany, there is a large surplus of regenerative electricity that we currently - due to bottlenecks in the power grid - cannot take advantage of. One of the effects from this, since the surplus electric power cannot be stored in sufficient quantities, is that the wind turbines are taken off the grid. Aside from the expansion of the grid, the storage of surplus electricity from wind turbines can be converted into hydrogen, thereby making an effective contribution to the energy transition.

At the same time, both ports and maritime businesses require significant amounts of energy, and they cause CO2 emissions and air pollutant that can be reduced, if you use regenerative energies at a higher level.

Project Objective

The project WASh2Emden examines the opportunities to exploit the so-far unused electricity, convert it, and then store the new form of energy as “green” hydrogen and utilize it in various applications in the port. This aims to create emission reductions for the shoreside port operation, in logistics, but also for ships moored in the port, by utilizing regeneratively produced hydrogen.

Approach

The project partners are examining various green hydrogen supply chains that would work for the Port of Emden. In addition to the different possibilities for generating hydrogen, possibilities for distribution and storage are scrutinized, taking technical and business aspects into account.

On the other hand, we are in the process of identifying and assessing potential hydrogen consumers in and around the Port of Emden. An investigation of the required and favorable frame conditions for the provisioning, distribution, storage, and application(s) of hydrogen will round off the findings.

The results of the feasibility study for innovative and eco-friendly hydrogen applications at the Seaport of Emden is available as a download.