Port of Tilbury, RWE, Mitsui collaborate on green hydrogen project
The Port of Tilbury, RWE, and Mitsui are collaborating on an
innovative hydrogen project as part of a recently signed Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) for two green hydrogen projects at the port.
RWE is a UK-based power generator and a world player in renewable
generation, while Mitsui is a global trading and investment company.
Through the MoU, the organisations will complete two parallel work
streams:
A small scale ‘proof of concept’ demonstrator project to produce green
hydrogen for decarbonising items of port equipment by switching from fossil
fuels to hydrogen.
An initial study into a 10-megawatt green hydrogen plant. The facility will
be developed on Port of Tilbury land previously housing a coal-fired power
station, transforming an area historically associated with fossil fuel power
generation to green hydrogen production, at the heart of the Thames
Freeport.
The project will also look at options to scale up development over a
10-year period upwards of 100 megawatts. The hydrogen would be used for port
infrastructure and operations in addition to providing green hydrogen to the
surrounding industry.
Peter Ward, Commercial Director at the Port of Tilbury, and Thames Freeport
lead said: “This is an important opportunity to support the Port of Tilbury’s
commitment to achieving net zero for our customers.
“Our business has set out our ambition to be carbon neutral by 2032 and net
zero by 2042 by investing in the infrastructure in the ports.
“As part of Thames Freeport, our MoU with RWE and Mitsui to develop a new
hydrogen plant at the Port of Tilbury will help accelerate the UK’s path to a
decarbonised economy and support our vision for low carbon logistics,” Ward
added.
Steve Boughton, RWE Director Hydrogen Development, said: “This
collaboration with Mitsui and the Port of Tilbury is for an innovative project
combing production and industrial customer use with potential fuel switching of
port equipment.”
In September 2022, Mitsui E&S Machinery Co., Ltd. (MES-M), part of
PACECO Group, announced the completion and power generation verification of a
hydrogen fuel cell power pack (FCPP) for a Rubber-Tyred Gantry crane
(Transtainer).
More recently, Forth Ports, announced its commitment and the actions it is
taking to achieve a Net Zero carbon operation by 2042.
The team is overhauling and electrifying equipment and machinery across the
group’s eight ports, including the Port of Tilbury, switching to low carbon
fuels, increasing on-site renewable energy generation, and promoting low carbon
delivery alternatives such as rail and barge.
