WA to partner with Port of Rotterdam for Hydrogen exports

The transformation of Western Australia into a global supplier of renewable hydrogen continues, with the state government to partner with the Netherlands’ Port of Rotterdam and the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research on a study into fast tracking hydrogen exports from the Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area in the Mid-West.

The Western Australian (WA) government said the Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area (SIA) has some of Australia’s best renewable energy resources, and the potential to become one of the largest renewable hydrogen producing areas in the world.

Hydrogen Industry Minister Alannah MacTiernan on Wednesday met with the representatives of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the program manager for International Hydrogen from the Port of Rotterdam to discuss the trilateral study.

Providing a platform for joint research and opportunities for businesses from both continents, the study will examine technology solutions and port master planning, to help accelerate the export of renewable hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives through the development of an integrated port at the Oakajee SIA.

It will include a site-specific estimation of hydrogen generation, supply costs to the Port of Rotterdam, and possible port-to-customer transports to Germany.

The WA Government will invest AUD $500,000 to the study, with the Port of Rotterdam allocating €250,000. German Federal Ministry for Education Research (BMBF) intends to contribute with funding of up to €500,000.

WA’s Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation and the Mid-West Port Authority will undertake the study with the Port of Rotterdam and Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE).

The Port of Rotterdam and ISE will contribute world-leading innovative technology solutions that will assist in accelerating hydrogen production and exports to Europe before the end of this decade.

The study builds on strong relationships that were formed through the Australia-Germany Hydrogen Accord, and the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the WA government and the Port of Rotterdam in November 2021.