Mapping of Initiatives for hydrogen growth in the Atlantic Area
The first output of the HYDEA project was an interactive map about the main present and planned initiatives related to hydrogen in ports in the Atlantic Area regions. This map serves to locate the main projects, their characteristics and identifies the participating partners. It offers a complete vision of the role that ports are taking in the hydrogen economy and an overview of the project models that are being carried out. The information on this map is completed with partners’ fields of expertise, but also with information coming from promoters who want to make their respective projects more visible. It is freely available on the HYDEA project website.
A report has been produced to complete this map. It presents the extensive literature review that was conducted on trustworthy sources to identify key initiatives related to hydrogen in European seaports, particularly those of the Atlantic Area. This report is also an encompassing document that provides an overview of hydrogen trends in European seaports, which will be edited and updated throughout the implementation of the project.
Most promising hydrogen applications and benefits
The identification of the most promising green hydrogen technologies and applications that was conducted is based on statistical analysis of the literature considering critical aspects like cost, energy efficiency and decarbonisation effects.
- To explain the usefulness of hydrogen for the transition into a CO2-free energy sector.
- To survey the main technologies for producing green hydrogen.
- To explore hydrogen storage and examine chemical storage alternatives.
- To provide examples of practical implementation of hydrogen distribution methods.
- To give an overview of hydrogen applications and end uses.
- To explore potential sources and applications of green hydrogen in ports.
Main bottlenecks for hydrogen implementation
An important work was carried to describe the main technical, economic, social, and regulatory bottlenecks to the implementation of hydrogen-based infrastructures in ports in the study regions. This work was built on literature review, experts’ knowledge, and the previous findings of HYDEA project.
It is known that the main barrier that prevents the deployment of renewable hydrogen is the production cost, which depends on the progress made by the scientific community to optimize the electrolysis processes. There are also technical limitations in hydrogen transformation into a raw material/energy vector suitable for final uses and its integration into the industrial processes of consumers. Also, a lack of clean hydrogen value chain represents one of the main obstacles to overcome for the development of a low carbon hydrogen economy. Finally, the need for international hydrogen standards and regulations is a major obstacle to the development of a global hydrogen market.
Identification of opportunities in ports
A study was carried out to identify potential case studies for the integration of hydrogen technologies within the HYDEA ports. These case studies are based on each port’s specific characteristics, functions, existing and planned infrastructure, its industrial environment, as well as its strategic plan.
The associated report summarizes the opportunities for the development of the hydrogen economy identified in HYDEA ports, considering their positioning with respect to the value chains. This identification of opportunities was carried out jointly with the ports through direct interviews. The focus areas include mobility, logistics, energy supply, and potential hydrogen production and distribution.
The results provide a deeper understanding of the current situation of ports, evaluating their technological maturity, future vision, and interest in implementing hydrogen-based solutions in their daily operations. They suggest that the most prominent opportunities for hydrogen integration are production and distribution points, mobility in heavy-duty vehicles and ships, integration into port cargo handling equipment, and refuelling stations. The implementation of these technologies is expected not only to provide environmental benefits by reducing CO₂ emissions but also to enhance energy efficiency through the adoption of advanced and sustainable technologies.
HYDEA ports could play a strategic role in the hydrogen supply chain, facilitating regional distribution and contributing to the development of a broader hydrogen economy.
Photo credit: Port of Seville
