Hamburg receives first shipment of hydrogen from the UAE

The first test delivery of hydrogen in the form of ammonia has been received at the climate-neutral HHLA Container Terminal Altenwerder, where it was unloaded from the Hapag-Lloyd ship Prague Express, Germany’s port operator Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG confirmed.

The pilot delivery is said to set an important milestone for the medium-term imports of green hydrogen.

“HHLA is pleased to facilitate the import of hydrogen and its derivatives to Germany and Europe as part of the strategic energy partnership between UAE and Germany,” Angela Titzrath, CEO of HHLA, commented.

“In order to use hydrogen on a large scale, a reliable and efficient transport chain is needed from producing countries like the UAE to the German and European customers.”

Hamburg-based HHLA signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in March 2022 to test the transport chain for hydrogen from the UAE to Germany. The hydrogen supplied by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) was shipped in the form of the hydrogen derivative ammonia. The cargo departed the UAE in early September.

The ammonia supplied will be used by the multi-metal manufacturer Aurubis for test runs for the climate-neutral conversion of gas-intensive copper wire production, thus replacing fossil fuel in the long term.

In 2020, HHLA launched the HHLA Hydrogen Network project to identify the potential of hydrogen in its own business segments and beyond. Hydrogen as an energy carrier can contribute significantly to the decarbonisation of logistics.

The arrival of the first shipment of green hydrogen in Hamburg coincided with an announcement of the European Commission about the creation of a new European Hydrogen Bank aimed at bridging the investment gap and connecting future supply and demand.

The announcement was made during von der Leyen’s State of the Union address on 14 September 2022 as one of the Commission’s initiatives to invest further in renewable energy and hydrogen in particular.