Huge port complex key to Belgium’s green hydrogen hub strategy

“Together with all stakeholders from government and industry, we have developed a focused strategy built on all the know-how Belgium has accumulated over the past decades,” said Mr De Croo.

“We want to seize our potential to become a European leader in hydrogen, by ensuring the security of hydrogen supply by the second half of this decade, strengthening our technological leadership, developing a hydrogen market, and turning Belgium into a leading continental hub for hydrogen,” he continued.

“We believe hydrogen will play a key role in our wish to redraw the energy fundamentals of our entire continent.”

Port of Antwerp-Bruges sees a key position for itself in the import, local production, processing and throughput of green hydrogen and hydrogen carriers (such as ammonia and methanol) to the hinterland.

It has the expertise of innovative companies, research centres and educational institutions, and the infrastructure and industry is already in place to attain this goal.

Port of Antwerp-Bruges has worked with technology providers such as CMB.Tech and Anglo-Belgian Corp to test the first hydrogen-powered tugboat and convert one of its own vessels for burning methanol.

From 2026 onwards, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges will see its existing capacity further expanded to receive the first green hydrogen molecules on its platform.

To strengthen its position, Port of Antwerp-Bruges formed a hydrogen import coalition together with five major industrial players and public stakeholders: DEME, Engie, Exmar, Fluxys and WaterstofNet.

“Together with our partners in organisations such as the Hydrogen Import Coalition, and the major players on our port platform, we are investing in infrastructure and projects to accelerate the import, transport and production of green hydrogen,” said Port of Antwerp-Bruges chief executive Jacques Vandermeiren.

“Co-operation with and the appropriate support from the government is key to this. I therefore sincerely welcome this revised strategy that provides concrete direction, recognises imports as a pillar of our energy and resource supply and demonstrates our commitment to working with industry on developing solutions to potential challenges that may lie in our path.”

Collaborations with several exporting regions have been established to kick-start the hydrogen chain and related export projects worldwide.

Open-access hydrogen pipelines and terminals will be essential for building this green fuels hub position. Port of Antwerp-Bruges is working to expand terminal capacity for existing and new hydrogen carriers at both port sites.

Belgium’s government is funding a network of hydrogen pipelines that will connect ports to industrial areas in the country and in Germany by 2028.

Zeebrugge and Antwerp ports will produce green hydrogen locally using renewable energy from onshore and offshore windfarms.

Fluxys and Eoly are responsible for the construction of a production plant in Zeebrugge under the HyoffWind project and Plug intends to build a green hydrogen production plant in Antwerp at the circular hotspot NextGen District, close to Europe’s largest chemical cluster.

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