In concrete terms, there are already numerous examples of transport being made more sustainable. Let us highlight a few of them:
That's why Rotterdam is helping set up international collaborations for the deployment of sustainable fuels on specific routes: green corridors. Together with diverse international partners, we ensure that we collaborate well on a digital level, in order to improve the efficiency, and consequently the sustainability, of shipping.
In the development of green corridors, we bring together ports, shipping companies, builders of ships' engines and fuel suppliers to make sure that the right technique, fuel and bunker possibilities, data and insights are available on a specific route.
Between 3 and 4% of worldwide CO₂ emissions are caused by shipping. Sea-going vessels cover thousands of kilometres with millions of tonnes of cargo. Add to that the inland vessels, and it's as clear as day that this requires an unbelievable amount of energy, that is still coming from fossil fuels. However, it's also important to realise that shipping is still a very efficient method if large amounts have to be transported.
Step 4
One example of a green and digital corridor is the collaboration between Port of Rotterdam Authority and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. Singapore and Rotterdam are two of the largest bunker ports in the world, making them important links in the much-used Asian-European shipping routes. The goal is to realise the first sustainable shipping on this route in 2027, by using CO₂-neutral fuels and in 2030, to realise a 20% CO₂ reduction in the category of large container ships. The two ports are collaborating with a broad coalition of shippers, fuel suppliers and other companies on a sustainable route.
Green & Digital Corridor Rotterdam - Singapore
'Hydrogen is already being tested in shipping, but the time has come to take action towards large-scale implementation. By offering a modular, scalable and affordable solution, Condor H2 will make it technically and economically feasible to switch to zero-emission shipping on the key shipping routes in north-west Europe.'
Nico van Dooren, Director New Business of
the Port of Rotterdam Authority
Together with the province of Zuid-Holland and more than 40 partners, the Port of Rotterdam Authority has launched an ambitious project for emission-free inland shipping and coast vessels on hydrogen, called Condor H2. Thanks to this project, we should have fifty emission-free vessels sailing in 2030, allowing a CO₂ reduction of 100,000 tonnes a year to be realised.
Emission-free inland shipping and coast vessels on hydrogen
One partner of Condor H2 is Future Proof Shipping. In Rotterdam, they introduced the H2 Barge 1 into shipping in May 2023. This zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered vessel is 110 metres long and sails for Nike multiple times a week between the port of Rotterdam and the inland terminal of BCTN in Meerhout, Belgium. This is expected to save annual emissions of 2,000 tonnes of CO₂.
First inland vessel on hydrogen
Rotterdam is also collaborating with partners from the Netherlands and Germany on the RH2INE project, to install hydrogen filling stations along the River Rhine between Rotterdam and Cologne so that the first 10 to 15 inland tanker vessels can sail on hydrogen in the coming years.
Hydrogen production locations RH2INE-project
Since 2021, the first Zero Emission Services (ZES) electric inland vessel has been sailing on interchangeable battery containers. In 2022, ZES received a €50 million subsidy from the Growth Fund, which will be used for scaling up. Because many cities have arisen along waterways, ZES is not only important for reducing CO2 emissions, but also for air quality.
Zero Emission Services (ZES)
'Schenk Tanktransport has been focusing on reducing CO2 emissions for years and its fleet now consists of an increasing number of trucks running on (BIO) LNG. For us, hydrogen as a fuel is the next logical step in making our company and our environment more sustainable and future-proof.'
Harry Schenk, Co-CEO Schenk Tanktransport
Air Products, Schenk and TNO collaborated with Port of Rotterdam Authority on the development of hydrogen trucks and a public hydrogen filling station. Air Products will operate the filling station and supply the green hydrogen. Schenk uses the hydrogen trucks for its daily logistics activities. The project is being set up by TNO and the insights gained will be used for the further development and application of hydrogen in heavy road transport.
Clean Hydrogen and Road Transport Project’ (CH2aRT)
The earlier-mentioned CH2aRT project also contributes to the ambition of HyTrucks. HyTrucks is one of the largest projects in Europe for the development of trucks powered by hydrogen and the corresponding infrastructure. The project ensures improvement of air quality and a reduction in CO₂ emissions estimated at in excess of 100,000 tonnes, the equivalent of 110 million truck kilometres. The ambition is to have a minimum of 500 trucks in the Netherlands, Belgium and Noordrijn-Westfalen in Germany driving on hydrogen by 2025.
HyTrucks
In concrete terms, there are already numerous examples of transport being made more sustainable. Let us highlight a few of them:
That's why Rotterdam is helping set up international collaborations for the deployment of sustainable fuels on specific routes: green corridors. Together with diverse international partners, we ensure that we collaborate well on a digital level, in order to improve the efficiency, and consequently the sustainability, of shipping.
In the development of green corridors, we bring together ports, shipping companies, builders of ships' engines and fuel suppliers to make sure that the right technique, fuel and bunker possibilities, data and insights are available on a specific route.
Between 3 and 4% of worldwide CO₂ emissions are caused by shipping. Sea-going vessels cover thousands of kilometres with millions of tonnes of cargo. Add to that the inland vessels, and it's as clear as day that this requires an unbelievable amount of energy, that is still coming from fossil fuels. However, it's also important to realise that shipping is still a very efficient method if large amounts have to be transported.
Step 4
One example of a green and digital corridor is the collaboration between Port of Rotterdam Authority and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. Singapore and Rotterdam are two of the largest bunker ports in the world, making them important links in the much-used Asian-European shipping routes. The goal is to realise the first sustainable shipping on this route in 2027, by using CO₂-neutral fuels and in 2030, to realise a 20% CO₂ reduction in the category of large container ships. The two ports are collaborating with a broad coalition of shippers, fuel suppliers and other companies on a sustainable route.
Green & Digital Corridor Rotterdam - Singapore
Together with the province of Zuid-Holland and more than 40 partners, the Port of Rotterdam Authority has launched an ambitious project for emission-free inland shipping and coast vessels on hydrogen, called Condor H2. Thanks to this project, we should have fifty emission-free vessels sailing in 2030, allowing a CO₂ reduction of 100,000 tonnes a year to be realised.
'Hydrogen is already being tested in shipping, but the time has come to take action towards large-scale implementation. By offering a modular, scalable and affordable solution, Condor H2 will make it technically and economically feasible to switch to zero-emission shipping on the key shipping routes in north-west Europe.'
Nico van Dooren, Director New Business of
the Port of Rotterdam Authority
Emission-free inland shipping and coast vessels on hydrogen
One partner of Condor H2 is Future Proof Shipping. In Rotterdam, they introduced the H2 Barge 1 into shipping in May 2023. This zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered vessel is 110 metres long and sails for Nike multiple times a week between the port of Rotterdam and the inland terminal of BCTN in Meerhout, Belgium. This is expected to save annual emissions of 2,000 tonnes of CO₂.
First inland vessel on hydrogen
Rotterdam is also collaborating with partners from the Netherlands and Germany on the RH2INE project, to install hydrogen filling stations along the River Rhine between Rotterdam and Cologne so that the first 10 to 15 inland tanker vessels can sail on hydrogen in the coming years.
Hydrogen production locations RH2INE-project
Since 2021, the first Zero Emission Services (ZES) electric inland vessel has been sailing on interchangeable battery containers. In 2022, ZES received a €50 million subsidy from the Growth Fund, which will be used for scaling up. Because many cities have arisen along waterways, ZES is not only important for reducing CO2 emissions, but also for air quality.
Zero Emission Services (ZES)
Air Products, Schenk and TNO collaborated with Port of Rotterdam Authority on the development of hydrogen trucks and a public hydrogen filling station. Air Products will operate the filling station and supply the green hydrogen. Schenk uses the hydrogen trucks for its daily logistics activities. The project is being set up by TNO and the insights gained will be used for the further development and application of hydrogen in heavy road transport.
'Schenk Tanktransport has been focusing on reducing CO2 emissions for years and its fleet now consists of an increasing number of trucks running on (BIO) LNG. For us, hydrogen as a fuel is the next logical step in making our company and our environment more sustainable and future-proof.'
Harry Schenk, Co-CEO Schenk Tanktransport
Clean Hydrogen and Road Transport Project’ (CH2aRT)
The earlier-mentioned CH2aRT project also contributes to the ambition of HyTrucks. HyTrucks is one of the largest projects in Europe for the development of trucks powered by hydrogen and the corresponding infrastructure. The project ensures improvement of air quality and a reduction in CO₂ emissions estimated at in excess of 100,000 tonnes, the equivalent of 110 million truck kilometres. The ambition is to have a minimum of 500 trucks in the Netherlands, Belgium and Noordrijn-Westfalen in Germany driving on hydrogen by 2025.