German Port Becoming a Central Hydrogen Hub

The industrial western German city of Duisburg is home to the world’s largest inland port and is expected to play a major role in the distribution of hydrogen as part of Germany’s drive to become climate neutral. But the port itself is also taking major steps toward climate-friendliness.

The port’s new container terminal, currently under construction, will be powered by electricity from “enerport II,” which uses fuel cells and hydrogen engines made by Rolls Royce.  The project is being funded by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action for a period of four years as part of the National Hydrogen Strategy.

Meanwhile, American company Plug Power, a leading provider of “turnkey hydrogen solutions for the global green hydrogen market,” has announced it will locate its European headquarters in Duisburg. The initial 70,000-square-foot facility, the company said in a statement, will house an innovation center with engineering labs, a monitoring, diagnostics and technical support center, an on-site electrolyzer enabling green hydrogen production, an inventory and logistics center, and training space.

The status of the city’s port with its direct connections to the ocean ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam was a key factor in the company’s decision.