Provincial Government Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Port of Rotterdam to Cooperate on Green Hydrogen Opportunities

(Executive Council Industry, Energy and Technology for Newfoundland and Laborador) A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Port of Rotterdam. This partnership will encourage the establishment of hydrogen supply chains to support Newfoundland and Labrador’s export of green hydrogen to the Netherlands, and onward to other parts of Europe.

The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Renévan der Plas, Director International for the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands to cooperate and explore opportunities in the area of green hydrogen and hydrogen technologies. The partnership highlights the significant potential of Newfoundland and Labrador’s renewable energy resources, in particular its wind resources, and the opportunity to bring them to the global marketplace in the form of green hydrogen.

The Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands is the largest inland port in Europe, and the 11th largest container port in the world. It is an energy hub for western Europe, with over 3,000 companies and some 13 per cent of total energy demand in Europe entering the European Union via Rotterdam. The Port is seeking to position itself as a green hydrogen hub for northwestern Europe, through major infrastructure investments in green hydrogen production and distribution, and port upgrades to accommodate green hydrogen imports.

Newfoundland and Labrador has a wealth of resources and supporting characteristics that well position it to competitively produce and export green hydrogen. These include abundant wind, water and land, a highly renewable grid, a skilled workforce, and a strategic location with numerous deep-sea ice-free ports along transcontinental shipping lanes and with proximity to Europe.

Europe is a key export market for Newfoundland and Labrador’s green hydrogen, as the European Union and several member countries have outlined hydrogen as a way to achieve energy security and net zero targets.

This Memorandum of Understanding with the Port of Rotterdam is in addition to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Declaration of Intent with the City of Hamburg, Germany to cooperate in the field of hydrogen and hydrogen technologies. On August 23, 2022 the Town of Stephenville hosted the signing of a Declaration of Intent to establish a Canada-Germany Hydrogen Alliance between the Governments of Canada and Germany as well, further highlighting the significant potential of our province’s renewable resources and the opportunities to bring them to the global marketplace.

Quotes
“I am pleased to be in Rotterdam for the signing of this joint declaration on green hydrogen cooperation between Newfoundland and Labrador and the Port of Rotterdam. Our province is well-positioned to help meet the clean energy needs of key international partners like the Netherlands, thanks to our world-class wind resources, available Crown land and fresh water, highly renewable grid with surplus energy, deep marine ports, and proximity to markets in North America and Europe. I look forward to working together in the coming years to establish a prosperous hydrogen economy and a greener environment that will be beneficial for us all.”
Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“Newfoundland and Labrador’s renewable energy resources present significant opportunities within and outside the province. As we continue with our fair and transparent process for allocating Crown land for wind energy projects to power green hydrogen projects in our province, we are building relationships with other jurisdictions as demonstrated by this MOU with the Port of Rotterdam. Newfoundland and Labrador is delivering affordable and reliable renewable energy to the people of the province and beyond, while developing and using its renewable energy resources in a way that protects the environment and grows jobs and the industry.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology

Excerpt from Reuters: Germany can only meet 30% of its own needs for green hydrogen, putting Berlin on a quest for trade partners to deliver the remaining 70%, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said on Monday in Berlin.

Produced using solar and wind power, green hydrogen is a pillar of Berlin's plan to transition away from fossil fuels.

"We need partners," Habeck said, adding that contracts and memorandums of understanding were currently being drawn up to secure green hydrogen imports.

Habeck, whose ministry is responsible for energy and who also serves as deputy chancellor of Germany, said it was important to find as many partners as possible to avoid too much dependency on individual nations. READ MORE