How are European ports gearing up to establish a hydrogen infrastructure and to manage hydrogen containers for emission-free inland shipping, and what obstacles must be tackled? These are key questions of the recently launched study by the TSB-Transferstelle Bingen (Bingen technology transfer institute) in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The study is conducted on behalf of the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture which joined the RH2INE initiative last year, enhancing the integration of the middle and lower Rhine regions into RH2INE.
In this project, TSB aims to evaluate the existing port infrastructure of hydrogen production, supply, and storage in the ports of the Rhine-Alpine waterway transport corridor. The aim of the study is to provide recommendations for developing a port ecosystem conducive to hydrogen refuelling and storage technologies. The study's kick-off workshop was held in Mainz on the 18th of March 2024, with participation from ports in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and France. The workshop focused (amongst others) on the technology of hydrogen-filled tank tainers, regulatory issues and emission labelling. We look forward to the upcoming activities and results, strongly supporting the ambitions of RH2INE: bolstering the European Ports Network and facilitating the creation of a hydrogen ecosystem in inland waterway transport in the EU!