A major step towards Europe’s clean energy future is underway with the announcement of a new floating hydrogen import terminal at Port-La Nouvelle in the Occitanie region of France. The terminal, a collaboration between Höegh Evi, Port-La Nouvelle, and other key partners, will facilitate the import of hydrogen from the Middle East, North Africa, and the Americas, with a goal to become a critical hub for clean molecules in Europe.
Strategic Role of Port-La Nouvelle
The terminal will play a pivotal role in advancing the transition to clean energy by serving as a key entry point for hydrogen and low-carbon fuels into Europe. Erik Nyheim, President & CEO of Höegh Evi, highlighted the terminal’s significance:
“Höegh Evi is leveraging our extensive expertise to enable Europe to import significant volumes of clean molecules within this decade. With its strategic location and well-established marine infrastructure, Port-La Nouvelle is ideally positioned to become a key entry point for hydrogen and low-carbon fuels. Together we are driving the energy transition forward by establishing a crucial hub for clean energy in Europe.”
The terminal’s location at Port-La Nouvelle in southern France is strategically chosen to provide easy access to major hydrogen transport infrastructures, positioning the port as a major contributor to the industrial and energy development of the Occitanie region. The partners aim to strengthen the region’s attractiveness as an energy hub and stimulate job growth in the area.
A Vital Step in the Energy Transition
The project will enable the import of up to 210,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year by 2030, contingent upon the readiness of France’s hydrogen pipeline network. This would be a significant boost to Europe’s hydrogen capacity, as the continent increasingly turns to clean fuels for energy transition.
Hans Kerstens, CEO of SEMOP Port-La Nouvelle, expressed the port’s eagerness to support the green energy transition:
“In recent years, the port of Port-La Nouvelle has made significant investments to expand and prepare the port for the future. Our focus is to become an enabler in the green energy transition. The port of Port-La Nouvelle is eager to accommodate new types of traffic, particularly those associated with renewable energies and especially those linked to hydrogen molecules. We look forward to working with Höegh Evi towards our common goal of turning Port-La Nouvelle into the European gateway hub in the Mediterranean for hydrogen.”
Feasibility Studies and Infrastructure Development
The partners are currently engaged in a feasibility assessment and designing the necessary infrastructure to bring the terminal to life within Port-La Nouvelle. The terminal will help create a vital link in Europe’s hydrogen network, contributing to the continent’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift towards renewable energy sources.
Collaborative Efforts and Future Developments
This initiative is part of a broader effort to develop low-carbon hydrogen infrastructure in the Mediterranean region. The collaboration includes the Occitanie Region, DEME Concessions NV, Euroports, and Teréga, which recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build essential port and logistics infrastructures in Port-La Nouvelle. These infrastructures will be crucial for handling hydrogen and other clean molecules, including CO2 and alternative fuels.
With these developments, Port-La Nouvelle is positioning itself as a leading hydrogen gateway in Europe, reinforcing its critical role in the continent’s pursuit of a sustainable energy future.
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Source: Offshore Energy
