(Madrid / Rotterdam) – The Spanish oil company Compañía Española de Petróleos SAU (Cepsa) wants to export the hydrogen produced in its San Roque energy park near the Bay of Algeciras near Gibraltar to the port of Rotterdam. Ammonia or methanol serve as carriers. The trade route is expected to be operational by 2027. Cepsa also intends to develop a similar supply chain for its La Rabida energy park in Huelva, northeast of Algeciras.
Seven gigawatts of wind and solar projects
The company announced its first plans to focus its energy parks in Andalusia on the export of hydrogen in April. Accordingly, they want to invest between seven and eight billion euros in the energy transition on the Iberian Peninsula. In 2023, more than 60 percent of this will go to sustainable projects.
According to the company, Cepsa's energy parks have competitive electricity from renewable energy sources as well as a well-developed industrial infrastructure and direct access to the sea. The plan is to build electrolysers with a capacity of two gigawatts by 2030. To generate the renewable energy required for production, Cepsa will develop a portfolio of seven gigawatts of wind and solar projects while working with other renewable energy producers in Andalusia to promote the integration of these new assets into the electricity system, it said a message.
Trade routes for green hydrogen
Cepsa and the Port of Rotterdam port authority have reportedly already signed a declaration of intent. “Northwestern Europe consumes far more energy than it can produce sustainably,” says Port of Rotterdam managing director Allard Castelein. “That’s why we’re building multiple trade routes for green hydrogen together with exporting countries and private companies around the world.”
It is expected that around 2050 million tonnes of hydrogen will flow through the port in 20, of which only two million tonnes will be produced locally. The establishment of this trade route between Algeciras and Rotterdam is “a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions, increasing Europe’s energy independence and stimulating our economies.”
Rotterdam is prioritizing hydrogen
Hydrogen has a high priority in Rotterdam's plans for the energy transition. Currently a number of large projects developed. In collaboration with exporting countries and companies, the port could supply northwestern Europe with 2030 million tons annually by 4,6, which corresponds to a CO2 reduction of 46 million tons.
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Cepsa wants to transport hydrogen derivatives from southern Spain to Rotterdam. © Cepsa SAU
