German seaports seen as key sites for development and transport of green hydrogen

German seaports could soon become key sites for the development of the country’s hydrogen economy, according to a recent report by the German Maritime Center (DMZ) in Hamburg. Hydrogen is seen as a vital energy storage medium in order to largely convert the energy supply in Germany and internationally to renewable power, such as wind and solar. The development of a hydrogen economy could bring a renaissance to German seaports, the study finds. The Ports of Bremen are now looking to develop a green hydrogen network that would include producers, importers, processors and consumers, Die Welt reports. "We are developing the Bremerhaven seaport as a test field for hydrogen technologies in the maritime industry," says Uwe von Bargen, director for environment and sustainability at the bremenports management company. The company is aiming to make the Ports of Bremen, above all Bremerhaven, climate neutral by 2045. Despite the planned expansion of on and offshore wind power in and along the North and Baltic Sea region in the coming years, it is clear that all the renewable energy capacity in Germany will not be sufficient to meet the demand for renewable electricity and green hydrogen, Die Welt adds. Germany will therefore have to import large amounts of green hydrogen. The study examines Australia, Chile, Iceland, Canada, Morocco, Norway and the United Arab Emirates as locations for the production of hydrogen and products made from it. "It turns out that, when it comes to the production of hydrogen products, the import to Germany via ship is quite competitive compared to possible pipelines and becomes more and more competitive with increasing distance," the study notes.

Germany has set out to become a leader in the development of hydrogen technologies and the government has set out its goals in its National Hydrogen Strategy.