Wind & Water Works, in collaboration with the International Trade Association for Offshore and Marine Industry (IRO), has recently signed the Green Ports Partnership Joint Statement between Brazil and the Netherlands.
This three-year cooperation program aims to support Dutch companies in exporting and investing in Brazil, while also facilitating investments and exports from Brazilian companies to the Netherlands. The primary focus of this partnership is to enhance bilateral cooperation and knowledge-sharing in the areas of port development, port logistics, hinterland connections, and port-related energy projects, including offshore wind and green hydrogen production.
The joint statement signifies the intention of the involved parties to become signatories to a Letter of Intent (LoI) regarding the Green Ports Partnership. In line with this initiative, the Ports of Rotterdam and Pecém in Brazil have already signed a collaboration agreement specifically targeting energy projects, such as offshore wind and green hydrogen production. The Port of Rotterdam, one of Europe’s largest ports, has plans to import renewable energy on a large scale for the European energy supply through the utilization of green hydrogen.
Port of Rotterdam – Port of Pecém agreement
The Port of Rotterdam Authority, which has a stake in the Port of Pecém, recognizes the potential of the Brazilian port as an industrial and logistics hub for the northeast region of the country. This collaboration opens up opportunities for international trade flows and investment between Europe and Brazil. The agreement was formalized during Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s visit to Brazil, with the signing taking place via a live video link between the World Port Center in Rotterdam and the Pecém Port Complex Integration Company (CIPP) in Brazil during the World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition 2023 in Rotterdam.
The Port of Rotterdam has already set in motion plans for a significant hydrogen plant within its premises. Shell is developing a 200 MW electrolysis plant that will harness the electricity generated by the 759 MW Hollandse Kust Noord offshore wind farm to produce green hydrogen. This ambitious project aims to provide hydrogen for various industrial applications and the transport sector. Vattenfall, another prominent offshore wind developer, also intends to integrate green hydrogen technology with offshore wind generation. Their plan involves constructing a 45 MW hydrogen cluster within the Hollandse Kust West VII area, where three turbines equipped with electrolyzers will facilitate the production of hydrogen. The hydrogen produced by this cluster will be transported via a pipeline to the Port of Rotterdam and fed into the existing hydrogen network.
Advancing sustainable development
The Green Ports Partnership between Brazil and the Netherlands holds immense potential for advancing sustainable port development, fostering trade, and promoting the use of renewable energy sources such as offshore wind and green hydrogen. Through collaboration and knowledge-sharing, the partnership aims to drive innovation and contribute to the global transition toward a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.