H-vision partners
The H-vision consortium brings together a wide range of parties – most of them from Rotterdam’s port and industrial area. Together, they represent the entire hydrogen chain – from producers to end users. In mid-2019, H-vision published an extensive feasibility study that shows how its project will yield swift and substantial carbon savings. The H-vision partners are currently working on follow-up steps, which should ultimately lead to the launch of the actual project.
The participating parties are: Deltalinqs, Air Liquide, bp, Port of Rotterdam, Shell, Royal Vopak and ExxonMobil. The
The H-vision concept is supported by the CO2 abatement strategies of the municipality Rotterdam, the Province of South Holland, the national government and the European Commission. Furthermore, the national government has created a new category in the Dutch SDE++ subsidy scheme, which supports hydrogen production from process gases for generation of industrial heat.
Corné Boot
Head of Country, bp the Netherlands
‘The H-vision project is extremely important to us because once it has been implemented, we will be able to take major steps forward in realising our ambition to be completely carbon-neutral by 2050 (#bpnetZero) and help the rest of the world achieve this same goal. In addition, the project plays an important part in further raising the sustainability of heat and electric power generation at our assets.’
Corné Boot
Roel Ebus
Organizational and GHG Business Development Advisorirector
'Our company wants to help meet the global and evolving need for essential products at affordable prices. At the same time, we want to play a leading role in the energy transition. The ambition is to achieve net-zero emissions from our own operations by 2050, supported by detailed roadmaps for our major operated sites.
First of all, we limit the emissions of our facilities by working energy-efficiently and by developing and applying new technologies. In addition, we make products for consumers and customers that help them reduce their emissions.
Together with scientists and other companies we are working on other projects to reduce emissions. One of these projects is Porthos, where large amounts of CO2 are stored underground. It would be even better if we could reuse the CO2; we look at possibilities through new technologies.
We are investigating ways to recycle plastic for reuse. In December 2022 we started our first recycling plant in Baytown, Texas. Rotterdam is a potential next project. We are working with government, industry and communities to scale up the collection and sorting of plastic waste, which will improve recycling rates and help our customers around the world meet their sustainability goals.
H-vision also fits perfectly within this ambition; we assess whether refinery fuel gas can be used to produce hydrogen and whether this hydrogen can possibly provide energy for industrial heat, electricity, housing and transport. All this while significantly reducing CO2 emissions in the port of Rotterdam.
This is how we contribute to the energy transition, while we continue to make the products that everyone needs.'
Roel Ebus
Ruud de Jongh
Vice President Gas & Hydrogen Partnership Shell
The Netherlands
'Dutch industry is working hard to reduce its carbon emissions and contribute to the goals set out in the national Climate Agreement. Hydrogen plays an important role in this context since it can replace fossil fuels in a range of different processes. Unfortunately, in the short term, we do not have enough electric power from renewable sources for the large-scale production of green hydrogen. To ensure that in the intervening period we are able to substantially reduce our carbon emissions, Shell is developing projects to produce blue hydrogen at both Moerdijk and Pernis. This will mainly be made from residual refinery gases. The carbon emissions released by this process will be captured at the source and stored. Besides yielding significant emissions savings, this also helps to prepare a range of different plants, our infrastructure and the sector in general for the future transition – one that involves the large-scale adoption of hydrogen as an energy carrier, a product that will ultimately be completely green in terms of production. This accelerates the development of our industry and society towards net-zero emissions.’
Ruud de Jongh
Patrick van der Voort
President Vopak Business Unit Netherlands
‘We help the world flow forward”. That’s what Vopak stands for – for more than 400 years. Hydrogen is important to accelerate the energy transition. We expect Rotterdam to establish itself as a major international hub where hydrogen is produced, consumed, traded, imported and exported to industrial clients in Germany. And we need to take action as soon as possible – for the sake of the global climate. Low carbon hydrogen will play a key part in getting the hydrogen economy off to a good start. That is why we are determined to develop the infrastructure required for both the import and distribution of green hydrogen and for the producers and users of the low carbon hydrogen, produced from residual gases, supplied by the H-vision network. We look forward to the challenge of connecting a range of different companies – each with its own requirements – to the same infrastructure. And we see it as our reward that we will be able to help our clients achieve their sustainability and climate goals, as well as become a part of the future’s new value chains.’
Patrick van der Voort
Bas Janssen
Managing Director Deltalinqs
‘The H-vision project is a prime example of our unique strength: to take the initiative and bring different companies in Rotterdam’s port and industrial area together. This project also has huge potential, since it allows the industrial sector to take the lead in developing a practical solution for the short-term reduction of our collective carbon emissions. And down the road, the projected hydrogen chain and the associated infrastructure will also make it easier to incorporate green hydrogen in the energy system. H-vision is marked by two important qualities, in other words: it can swiftly reduce carbon emissions, while simultaneously accelerating the energy transition – paving the way for a future green hydrogen economy.’
Bas Janssen
Boudewijn Siemons
CEO Port of Rotterdam
'H-vision’s hydrogen network offers Rotterdam’s industrial sector an efficient and substantial solution for cutting back its carbon emissions. This is important for our industry, but also for the Netherlands as a whole. With over 565,000 jobs, direct and indirectly, the port of Rotterdam is a major employer in the Netherlands. It is also responsible for over 8% of the Dutch GDP. We now have the task to mitigating climate change while simultaneously maintaining our existing prosperity. In addition, we need to protect our international market position. H-vision presents a major solution for this challenging combination.’
Boudewijn Siemons
Gert Jan ten Cate
Managing Director Air Liquide Industrie BV
'It is Air Liquide's ambition to be a leader in the sustainability and production of industrial gases and thus to contribute to the realization of the climate goals. At the end of November 2018, Air Liquide announced its ambition and goals for 2025. With a global approach, the group takes active measures to achieve the climate goals with sustainable, low-carbon solutions. Participation in the H-vision project fits in seamlessly with this.'
Gert Jan ten Cate