Hamburg aims for ammonia hub

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AMMONIA • HAMBURG IS LEADING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GREEN ENERGY IMPORT AND DISTRIBUTION INFRASTRUCTURE FOR GERMANY, WORKING TOGETHER WITH AIR PRODUCTS AND OILTANKING

AIR PRODUCTS AND Mabanaft have announced a plan to build Germany’s first large-scale green energy import terminal in the port of Hamburg. Located at the existing bulk liquids terminal operated by Mabanaft subsidiary Oiltanking Deutschland, the planned facility will be designed to import green ammonia produced at large-scale green hydrogen plants operated by Air Products and its partners around the world, convert it back into hydrogen at the Air Products plant in Hamburg, and distribute it to buyers in the port region and across northern Germany.

Air Products and Mabanaft says they are “committed to expediting the development of this significant investment in a green import facility for Germany” and are targeting initial hydrogen output by 2026.

“Together with Mabanaft, we look forward to further progressing our plans of importing needed renewable energy into Germany through our planned facility,” says Air Products’ chairman, president and CEO Seifi Ghasemi. “As the world’s largest producer of hydrogen, Air Products is in an excellent position to meet demand, having committed billions of dollars to produce renewable energy at locations around the world. Air Products fully appreciates the support and visionary leadership of the German government,” which was demonstrated by the presence of Robert Habeck, Germany’s federal minister for economic affairs and climate action, as well as Dr Peter Tschentscher, first mayor of Hamburg, at the formal announcement of the project on 17 November.

Dr Tschentscher stressed Hamburg’s potential for the new terminal, saying: “Hamburg offers excellent conditions for the import, distribution and use of green hydrogen. It is already clear today that the demand for hydrogen in Germany far exceeds the domestic production capacities. As a traditional trading city, we maintain good relations all over the world, and the interest of our international partners in the development of a green hydrogen economy is great. Hamburg aims to become a leading hydrogen location in Europe. We want to help ensure energy security in Germany and advance the decarbonisation of industry and the economy.”

WORK TO BE DONE For Oiltanking, the project will entail some work at its Hamburg terminal. “We are delighted to work together with Air Products on the development of this terminal. As a result, we will make significant investments and deploy our energy infrastructure capabilities and expertise to accelerate the energy transition in Hamburg as the key import gateway for Germany,” says Volker Ebeling, senior vice-president New Energy, Chemicals & Gas at Mabanaft.

The announcement of the project followed on from the signing of a memorandum of understanding by Air Products and the Hamburg Port Authority in February 2022, in which both parties committed themselves to accelerating the production, supply chain and consumption of renewable hydrogen in northern Germany.

“After completing the first important milestone by signing an MoU in February 2022 with Air Products, we are happy that we take now the next important step toward building a hydrogen value chain in cooperation with our competent partners, Air Products and Mabanaft, the central element of which will be the import of green ammonia for conversion to green hydrogen,” says Jens Meier, CEO of Hamburg Port Authority. “Hamburg will be one of the first ports worldwide to offer clean hydrogen import infrastructure. This import will drive the decarbonation for several applications in the harbour, as well as applications in shipping.” www.hafen-hamburg.de