Spanish energy company Iberdrola wants to export green ammonia to the Netherlands and supply it to its European customers as hydrogen through Gasunie’s national hydrogen network.
To establish this green hydrogen chain from Spain to the Netherlands, the Spanish energy company signed letters of intent with Dutch Gasunie’s subsidiary Hynetwork Services and ACE Terminal. In doing so, Iberdrola will export green ammonia to the Netherlands through the planned ACE import terminal at the Port of Rotterdam and transport it as green hydrogen via the Dutch national hydrogen network of Hynetwork Services to European customers.
Iberdrola, alongside Cepsa, is the second Spanish energy leader with which forces are being joined to realise the hydrogen corridor between northern and southern Europe through the ACE Terminal import facilities at the Port of Rotterdam and the Dutch national hydrogen network. At ACE terminal, green ammonia will be stored and converted to hydrogen so that it can be fed into Hynetwork Services’ nationwide network. Hynetwork Services’ national hydrogen network connects major industrial regions in the Netherlands and surrounding countries, such as Germany and Belgium. This national hydrogen transport network also includes connections to large-scale hydrogen storage facilities, domestic production and import terminals at the seaports.
The joint declarations were signed at the Iberdrola hydrogen plant in Puertollano, Spain, in the presence of Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Spanish King Felipe and Dutch Minister Rob Jetten for Energy and Climate. On behalf of Hynetwork Services, Helmie Botter, manager Business Development Hydrogen Gasunie, put her signature, On behalf of ACE Terminal, the declaration of intent was signed by its three shareholders: Gasunie Executive Board member Ulco Vermeulen, CEO HES International Cees van Gent and on behalf of Vopak Walter Moone, President New Energies & LNG, Vopak New Energies BV.
Dutch Energy and Climate Minister Rob Jetten said: ‘To achieve a climate-neutral energy system and a sustainable industry, the Netherlands and Europe have great hydrogen ambitions. International cooperation is essential to develop the hydrogen market and the infrastructure it requires. Within the EU, Spain has huge opportunities and is therefore one of our key hydrogen partners. Ultimately, it is the companies that really have to do it. It is important that this is already happening and that Dutch and Spanish companies make agreements with each other on the supply of green hydrogen.’
Ulco Vermeulen, Executive Board of Gasunie: ‘The Netherlands is uniquely positioned for hydrogen to become the gateway to northwest Europe. With the North Sea, the seaports as logistical import hubs, large industrial clusters and the available sophisticated national hydrogen transport network, all the ingredients are present. Gasunie is happy to contribute to the realisation of this international hydrogen chain in terms of large-scale import, transport and storage’.
Egbert Vrijen, project director ACE Terminal: ‘We are delighted that Iberdrola has chosen our open access terminal to receive, store and distribute ammonia as a carrier of green hydrogen. Following the previously signed letter of intent with Spain’s Cepsa for the supply of green ammonia, together with Iberdrola we are taking a new step in establishing the hydrogen chain between Spain and the Netherlands’.