Latest NS HyMaP Bulletin Published

Written on the 8th February, 2021

The North Sea Hydrogen Ports and Maritime Community (NS HyMaP) Information Bulletin has been published. The section below introduces the Bulletin. If you would like a copy of the full Bulletin please contact Jon Jordan at [email protected]

Information Bulletin No 18 begins with the launch of Horizon Europe which was launched before all parts of the Horizon Europe Programme have been agreed by the European Parliament. It is unlikely that there will be agreement with the Parliament before April at the earliest. Work Programmes will then be published and Calls for Projects issued. The timetable for Joint Undertakings is likely to take more time.

For prospective UK partners of Horizon Europe, we are entering new territory with access governed by an Association Agreement. Scotland Europa is holding a very useful webinar on Tuesday 9 February 2021 on the issue and details are inside the Bulletin.

In the latter part of 2020, there was a great deal of attention given to Hydrogen Strategies. Attention is now turning to the projects that will deliver the strategies. The magazine Recharge has published a list of the thirteen largest green hydrogen production projects. The vast majority of these projects are in their early stages with only a Chinese project due to complete this year. Four of these projects are in the North Sea and, if carried out to plan, will account for 22.3 GW of production.

The Bulletin goes on to look in greater detail at the NortH2 project in Northern Netherlands which is currently the largest North Sea and European project. The NortH2 website states that “the consortium is dependent, among other things, on permits from governments, the assignments of wind farm locations in the North Sea, land available for location of the hydrogen plant(s), interest from potential customers, and the final investment decisions.” It also stresses that the initial phases in the project will require European and national subsidies. These concerns will be familiar to project developers of small and medium sized projects as well and was a frequent concern for project sponsors submitting their projects to the Clean Hydrogen Alliance at the end of last year.

The Bulletin then moves to Germany and looks at the HY-5 Initiative which aims to install 500 MW of green electrolyser capacity by 2025. The HY-5 Initiative is an initiative involving five Northern German states and there is a link to major projects in these States that make up HY-5. There is a separate article about the formation of a Hydrogen Hub in the port of Hamburg which is also part of the HY-5 Hydrogen Strategy.

We then look at a Feasibility Study organised by the Belgium Hydrogen Import Coalition which concludes that it is both technically and economically feasible for Belgium to meets its energy transition needs through the import of hydrogen. Lastly, the Lloyd’s Register Decarbonisation Hub is progressing with the appointment of an Advisory Panel.

The North Sea Hydrogen Ports and Maritime Community (NS HyMaP) is a new organisation formed to promote the use of hydrogen in the North Sea Ports and Maritime sectors. From 1 January 2021, NS HyMaP has become a membership-based Community. Our Members are drawn from ports, the hydrogen and maritime sectors, local and regional government, academia and consultancies.

Mission Statement

The North Sea Hydrogen Ports and Maritime Community (NS HyMaP) is a membership based association that promotes the increased use of hydrogen in the ports and maritime sector as an effective and efficient way of achieving climate neutrality in one of the EU’s most important maritime regions.”