ROTTERDAM

ENERGY PORT

PORT SPECIAL | JUNE 2010
GATE, THE FIRST DUTCH LNG TERMINAL
FOUR NEW POWER PLANTS IN THE PORT
WINNING WIND
INTRODUCTION
CONTENTS
Rotterdam is a global player in the field of energy
supply. Take away all the energy-related activities
of the companies in the port of Rotterdam and the
economy in Northwest Europe would mostly come
to a standstill. And this need for energy will only
keep on growing. As Europes No. 1 Energy Port,
Rotterdam is eager to meet that demand: as
reliable, affordable and sustainable as possible.
We are fully committed to the further development
of renewable energy sources such as wind energy
and biomass to guarantee our long term future. At
the same time, we will not abandon existing fossil
fuels. Natural gas is relatively clean anyway and, in
combination with full carbon capture and storage,
so in fact is coal. In pace with the development of
Rotterdam Energy Port, we also aspire to become
the CO
2
hub of North-West Europe. It is the sheer
size of all the activities here which makes that
possible.
An important role in this entire process has been
reserved for the Rotterdam Climate Initiative (RCI).
This cooperation between us and the Municipality
04 Europes No. 1 Energy Port
06 The race to beat climate change
07 Enecogen:
The cleanest power plant in the Netherlands
08 Gate Terminal:
Gas Access to Europe via the Maasvlakte
10 Free rein for independent InterGen
11 Eneco & Nuon:
Winning wind
12 Rotterdam Energy Port map
14 Electrabel builds on the future
16 E.ON:
Investing with vision
17 EMO:
Efcient coal logistics
18 Air Products & ExxonMobil:
Textbook example of integration
20 Air Liquide :
New state-of-the-art hydrogen plant
21 RCI:
The new industrial revolution
22 Energy Port ready for the future
23 Your Energy Port Team
of Rotterdam, the port business community united
in Deltalinqs and the DCMR Environmental
Protection Agency Rijnmond aspires to reduce CO
2

emissions in the region by 50 percent in 2025
compared to 1990. By 2025, Rotterdam must in
addition be fully climate-proof.
In this way, Rotterdam develops into an even more
attractive location. Not that we suffer from a lack of
interest right now. In the port and industrial area,
some five to six billion euros are currently being
invested in energy-related projects. This magazine
is filled with appealing examples. With the con-
struction of Maasvlakte 2, our new port and
industrial complex in the North Sea, the future in
addition holds a wealth of opportunities to make
Rotterdam an even more reliable and sustainable
supplier of energy for the European economy than
it already is right now.
Hans Smits
CEO Port of Rotterdam Authority
COLOPHON
Port Special is a business-to-
business publication of the Port of
Rotterdam Authority. Please
contact our Marketing Communi-
cation Department with any
questions or suggestions you may
have regarding the contents.
Copy Rob Wilken (editor-in-chief),
Rob Schoemaker
Translation Dean Harte,
Niall Martin
Photography Eric Bakker, Freek
van Arkel
Layout Smidswater
Printing OBT TDS
Chief editor Port of Rotterdam
Elly Fransman
Port of Rotterdam Authority
The aim of the Port of Rotterdam
Authority is to enhance the port of
Rotterdams competitive position as
a logistics hub and world-class
industrial complex. Not only in
terms of size, but also quality. The
core tasks of the Port Authority are
to develop, manage and run the
port in a sustainable way and to
maintain a speedy and safe
service for shipping.
Facts and figures for the
Port Authority and the port
of Rotterdam:
Port Authority: 1200 employees,
turnover approx. 500 million.
www.portofrotterdam.com
Port area: approx. 26,000 acres
(12,500 acres of which
commercial sites, 13,500 acres
water and rail lines, roads and
pipeline zones).The port will be
extended by Maasvlakte 2 with
20%.
The length of the port area is
approx. 40 km.
Direct employment: over 90,000
jobs. Goods throughput: 400
million tonnes of goods a year.
Shipping: approx. 33,000
ocean-going vessels and 110,000
inland vessels per annum.
No rights can be derived from this
publication
For more information:
P.O.Box 6622,
3002 AP Rotterdam,
The Netherlands
T +31 (0)10 2521010
F +31 (0)10 2521020
E info@portofrotterdam.com
www.portofrotterdam.com
11
14
04
08
It will come on stream in
September 2011: Gas Access to
Europe (Gate) via the Maasvlakte
Electrabel and E.ON are
currently building new, state-of-
the-art coal and biomass-red
power plants in Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the most cost-efcient
location to generate wind energy
Rotterdam is Europes leading
Energy Port
2 PORT SPECIAL ROTTERDAM YOUR WORLD-CLASS ENERGY PORT 3
time at all. The LNG terminal Gate a joint venture
of Vopak and Gasunie is currently being con-
structed on the Maasvlakte.
CO
2
APPROACH
In pace with the growth ambitions, Rotterdam
at the same time is explicitly focusing on
sustainability. The Rotterdam Climate Initiative plays
an important role in that. It is the ambition of this
partnership between the Port Authority, the City
of Rotterdam, the business community organisation
Deltalinqs and DCMR Environmental Protection
Agency Rijnmond to reduce CO
2
emissions in the
region by 50 percent in 2025 compared to 1990.
Energy efficiency measures and renewable energy
(wind, biomass) will help a lot to cut emissions,
but carbon capture and storage (CCS) will also be
necessary to reach this ambitious goal. Melieste:
Right from the very start, we have linked the
construction of two new coal and biomass-fired
power plants to the development of a parallel
infrastructure for CCS. Rotterdam has a favourable
starting point in this respect. Combined, all indus-
trial activities generate sufficient volumes to actually
make capture and storage viable. Van Assche: Al
Gore calls business the driver for change. That
corresponds to our vision. Because of the concen-
tration of business activities here in Rotterdam, it is
possible to invest in a CO
2
infrastructure as well.
Without sufficient mass, you cannot reach this
point. Melieste praises the initiative of Electrabel
and E.ON for a large-scale CCS demonstration
project (see page 14-16) involving the capture of
CO
2
and its transport to a depleted gas field in the
North Sea via a pipeline. Its a great start to what in
the future will evolve into an open access CO
2

pipeline and shipping infrastructure to a number of
empty gas elds with many connected companies in
the port area. Part of this infrastructure will be the
already existing OCAP pipeline network which
provides greenhouse farmers with CO
2
from the port.
GROW AT MAASVLAKTE 2
In the future, Rotterdam Energy Ports main growth
will take place in the western port area. Hennissen:
Integrated with other industrial activities,
we want to further expand at Maasvlakte 2. Coal
gasification with CO
2
capture is one of the
possibilities (see also page 22, ed.). As the Port
of Rotterdam Authority, we are a company with a
long-term vision. The issuing of sites in the new
port area for energy-related activities will take
place in phases, over a period of twenty years.
DOUBLI NG I N WI ND
In any event, the Port Authority will also focus
strongly on wind power at Maasvlakte 2. 108 MW
of capacity is foreseen for the future seawall of
the new port area. Melieste: The wind capacity
in the port is currently 150 MW. We want to create
sufficient room to double this. In addition to new
sites, we are therefore also working with the
business community to explore the possibilities
of repowering existing wind farms through the
installation of new, higher-capacity turbines.
PARTNER OF THE BUSI NESS COMMUNITY
In all the activities for the further development
of Rotterdam Energy Port, the Port Authority is
explicitly positioning itself as a partner for the
business community. Van Assche: Our task as
the Port Authority is to get parties interested in
Rotterdam and bring them together to in that way
create synergy. Furthermore, we invest alongside
our customers in the construction of port basins,
jetties, etc. We also explicitly support synergies
through co-siting and clustering, and offer compa-
nies access to a comprehensive pipeline infrastruc-
ture, for example through our MultiCore joint
venture with Vopak.
NO. 1 ENERGY PORT
Through the further development of Rotterdam
Energy Port, we want to secure the continuous,
reliable and affordable supply of energy for the
port, the region, the Netherlands and North-West
Europe, concludes Hennissen. And all this as
cost-competitive and sustainable as possible:
Rotterdam, the no. 1 Energy Port in Europe!
EUROPES NO.1
ENERGY PORT
Rotterdam is rapidly developing into North-West Europes
leading Energy Port. Bas Hennissen, Ruud Melieste and
Roland van Assche of the Port of Rotterdam Authority
explain the underlying policy and ambitions. Being
a sustainable Energy Port, we want to secure the
continuous, reliable and affordable supply of energy
for the port, the region, the Netherlands and North-West
Europe.
For the Port of Rotterdam Authority, Energy Port
covers all the activities in the port and industrial
complex which relate to power, coal, biomass and
LNG. It is one of the fastest growing industries
in the port, says Bas Hennissen, Vice President
Industry & Bulk Cargo. Including a number of
projects aimed at the production of hydrogen,
some 5 to 6 billion euros will be invested by
companies in the port area in the next few years.
And this does not even include the Port Authoritys
own investments.
GROWTH MARKET
The generation of energy is an important growth
market in Europe. All predictions of, among others,
the International Energy Agency point to this.
Location-wise, Rotterdam has clear advantages in
this respect, starting with logistics. Large capesize
dry bulk vessels have unrestricted access to the
port and customers can choose from a wide range
of handling and storage facilities. Coal is already
a major commodity, biomass holds the same
potential. Ruud Melieste, Director Energy &
Industry at the Port Authority: Compared to
locations situated further inland, power plants in
Rotterdam can benefit from unique cooling-water
facilities. Water after all is plentiful here. Further-
more, it is possible to directly hook up to the
national 380 kV power grid. And of course
Rotterdam is a vast industrial cluster with substan-
tial energy consumption itself as well. Roland van
Assche, Director Bulk Cargo & Shipping, adds: In
addition, we have created the ideal infrastructure
for positioning Rotterdam as an LNG hub. LNG
tankers can safely enter and leave the port in no
SOME 5 TO
6 BILLION EUROS WILL
BE INVESTED IN THE
PORT AREA IN THE
NEXT FEW YEARS
PHOTO
Ruud Melieste (l),
Bas Hennissen (m) and
Roland van Assche
4 PORT SPECIAL ROTTERDAM YOUR WORLD-CLASS ENERGY PORT 5
PHOTO
Pier Vellinga
The Dutch energy provider Eneco
has joined forces with its Danish
counterpart DONG Energy for the
construction of a super-efcient, gas-
red power plant in the Europoort
area, right at the heart of Rotterdams
port and industrial complex. Director
Strategic Projects Piet Frints of Eneco
Strategic Assets: Enecogen will be the
cleanest fossil red power plant in the
Netherlands.
Currently under construction, the new gas-fired
plant will have a capacity of 870 megawatts (MW).
Enough to provide two million households with
electricity, says Frints. The choice to use gas as a
fuel source instead of much cheaper coal is a
deliberate one. Both Eneco and DONG Energy
attach great value to sustainability. We choose to
be environment-friendly and put a great deal of
emphasis on wind and solar energy in our portfolio.
Natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel. The
efficiency of the plant will be 59 percent. By also
equipping the plant with a DeNOx installation for
the capture of nitrogen oxides, this will definitely
be the cleanest fossil fired power plant in the
Netherlands. We will reduce NOx emissions by
80 percent.
ON STREAM I N THE AUTUMN OF 2011
The power plant is set to come on stream in the
autumn of 2011. Frints is optimistic: We are ahead
of schedule. Siemens is the integral contractor for
the mega-job, which at the end of May 2010
entered the phase of boiler construction and other
mechanical components. At peak times, some 700
to a 1000 people will be working here.
ADVANTAGES OF THE PORT
The construction of Enecogen involves almost
700 million euros. Both partners each provide half
of this amount; eventually, they will also operate
the gas plant on a similar 50:50 basis. Frints:
The electricity which is generated here will be
fed into the 380 kV national grid just like that.
The connection point to the grid is not too far
away, diagonally across from the plant at the
Maasvlakte. This is not the only advantage of
the selected location though. The gas is directly
piped in from the existing network of Gasunie.
Furthermore, we do not need a closed system
with separate cooling towers for our cooling water.
Water is readily available in the port. Our water
outlet will have a diameter of 2.30 metres and
can process 30,000 m per hour. Frints is also full
of praise with respect to cooperation with other
companies in the port. For example, our water
outlet runs underneath the oil pipeline of our
neighbour BP. You might think that they have an
issue with this. However, the exact opposite is true:
the cooperation is excellent. We also hired an lay
down area from Indorama and the cooperation
with the neighbouring pilots is excellent as well.
Enecogen is still looking for further synergy
opportunities. Frints: Obviously, we are keeping
an eye out for alternatives to put our residual heat
to good use. By supplying residual heat to third
parties, the efficiency rate of our power plant will
exceed the 60 percent.
THE RACE TO BEAT
CLIMATE CHANGE
Pier Vellinga is one of the Netherlands
leading scientists on the implications of
climate change. He warns of a global
catastrophe if we dont succeed in
drastically cutting CO
2
emissions within
the next thirty years. Thats why hes
also closely involved with the Rotterdam
Climate Initiative (RCI). Carbon capture
and storage (CCS) represents a great
opportunity, but certainly in economic
terms its not the last word.
The unchanged use of fossil fuels will bring about
drastic changes in the global climate and will have
an irreversible impact, like the melting of the polar
icecaps in Greenland and Antarctica and a long
term rise in sea levels of ten to twelve metres.
Vellingas scenario encompasses a horizon of
several hundred years, but even so theres no time
to lose. The crux is that if we were still to wait for
another 30 years, theres no way of turning back
the climatic processes that have been set in
motion. Effectively weve only got 30 years left to
take the pressure off the climate to cut emis-
sions. If we dont succeed in doing that, in two to
three hundred years the earth will put paid to us.
Look at it like an ice lolly. You can put it back in the
icebox once its melted, but the damage is done.
RACE AGAI NST TI ME
Drastic change is unavoidable, of that the scientist
is convinced, first and foremost with regard to
energy supplies. We have to achieve climate-neu-
tral energy supply: an energy supply that doesnt
involve the emission of greenhouse gases such as
CO
2
, he says. Vellinga says he can understand
that many people would prefer to continue along
existing lines for some time to come. But its
already become a tense race between nature
hitting back and our capacity to solve the emissions
problem. If we lose, then our grandchildren will pay
the price. Thats why we have to invest rapidly in
sustainable sources of energy.
ROTTERDAM CLI MATE I NITI ATI VE
Vellinga is closely involved with the Rotterdam
Climate Initiative. Traditionally ports have been
ranked in terms of accessibility. Slowly but surely
sustainability is becoming a factor as well, he
says. Rotterdam has a good starting position and
via the Rotterdam Climate Initiative it can stay
ahead of the game.
CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE
One of the major initiatives in Rotterdam to cut CO
2

emissions is carbon capture and storage. Vellinga
is convinced of the importance of capturing CO
2

and storing it underground. Without CCS its
almost impossible to meet the climate targets. Of
all the places in the world, Rotterdam is the best
positioned to realise carbon capture and storage.
Its already a hub for energy, for gas pipelines to
the North Sea and for technology. So if Rotterdam
cant do it... In terms of technology there is
consensus about CCS. But the economics of CCS
is another story. Rotterdam will find it a major
challenge to gain financing for the negative return
on CO
2
storage from industry and/or government.
CREATI VE ALTERNATI VES
Fortunately there are also other creative alterna-
tives, Vellinga says. Examples include transporting
CO
2
out to sea by tanker for use in recovering the
last reserves of oil and gas in offshore fields. And
of course CO
2
is already used extensively in
horticulture. Whats more, in the United States
research is currently being conducted into the
conversion of CO
2
into liquid fuel with the aid of
sunlight. Who knows, in thirty years time we might
be taking the CO
2
back out of the ground.
PHOTO
Piet Frints
ENECOGEN:
THE CLEANEST
POWER PLANT
IN THE NETHERLANDS
6 PORT SPECIAL ROTTERDAM YOUR WORLD-CLASS ENERGY PORT 7
Their eyes are filled with pride: Branko Pokorny,
Managing Director of Gate and Ulco Vermeulen,
representing the main shareholders. They are
standing in one of the three giant storage tanks
almost 90 metres across, roughly the size of a
soccer pitch which are currently under construc-
tion. Next year, when the tanks are taken into
commission, this will no longer be possible though:
some 180,000 m
3
of liquefied natural gas (LNG),
cooled to a temperature of -162C, will be sloshing
around here. The first overhaul has not been
scheduled until 50 years from now.
Proud and content. From idea to operational
terminal in six years, where normally this takes
eight to ten years. And there have been more
initiatives in the world to construct an LNG terminal
an investment which easily entails 1 billion euros
but only a few have succeeded, explains
Vermeulen. With Gate, everything came together
perfectly, agrees Pokorny. He is referring to the
complementary expertise of Vopak, the worlds
largest independent tank storage company, and
that of Gasunie, the independent gas infrastructure
developer and owner of the Dutch gas transport
network. He also mentions the location, the market,
the political conditions, the expertise, the sense of
urgency among the port authorities and, last but
not least, the unrivalled maritime qualities of the
Rotterdam port. Vermeulen: And we were able to
attract four launching customers DONG Energy
from Denmark, EconGas / OMV from Austria,
Essent from the Netherlands and E.ON Ruhrgas
from Germany to our terminal and realise long
term agreements for at least twenty years. They
have all taken a five-percent stake in Gate and, in
addition to a guaranteed equal treatment, can rest
assured of the fact that they have a long-term
supply guarantee. Vopak and Gasunie themselves
each have a 40-percent stake in Gate but do not
have any supply interests themselves. This is
Gates open access philosophy that appears to be
one of the keys to success.
I DEAL LOCATI ON
Rotterdam was able to provide a perfect location
for Gate at the Maasvlakte, just beyond the port
entrance. Here, there was room for a dedicated and
well-shielded harbour basin for the handling of
LNG, with an entrance and exit channel which
allows LNG tankers to access the two jetties
without any obstacles. Pokorny: Ive rarely seen
masters become so enthusiastic about such a
plan. That even large LNG carriers can call at
Rotterdam with very little restrictions and that the
port has an advanced traffic guidance system,
experienced pilots and towing services doesnt
need any further explanation.
Not just the captains of the LNG carriers, which
can often reach lengths of 350 metres, are excited;
politicians are enthusiastic as well. The supply of
European gas after all is not infinite and LNG
makes Europe less dependent on other sources.
Natural gas from the Atlantic basin, for example
from Algeria, Egypt, Qatar, Nigeria, Norway and
Angola, can now reach North-West Europe via
Rotterdam. We are looking into the possibility of
adding another tank (4 bcm), says Vermeulen.
This would enable us to feed gas into the gas
network for other traders as well.
WI N-WI N
To Vopak, Gate constitutes a new kind of activity
that brings diversity, growth and expertise which
can in the future also be implemented elsewhere
in the world. To Gasunie, the landing point
strengthens the role of the Netherlands as the gas
hub of Europe. Most of the main flows run via the
Netherlands. The environment is a clear winner as
well. Natural gas is by far the cleanest fossil fuel
and if some 12 billion m
3
(bcm) annually comes
onto the market here (as an indication: the total
Dutch gas market is about 40 bcm per year, the
German one 95 bcm per year), then this offers
additional opportunities for new applications such
as fuel for motor vehicles and vessels. The
technology is already there. Furthermore, Gate
is an emissions-free terminal. The regasification
process, in which the super-chilled LNG is turned
into gas again (which causes it to expand by a
factor of 600), requires a lot of energy. For this,
Gate can however use the cooling-water from
nearby industries such as Lyondell and the power
plant of E.ON. From a basin, Gate pumps this
water which is 7 to 8 degrees warmer than
normal to its facility, uses the extra heat and then
pumps it back to the harbour where it came from at
its regular temperature so that the river environ-
ment will not be disturbed.
Combining environment
and economics
Instead of discharging the
cooling water of our power
plants on the Maasvlakte
directly into the sea, Gate
will start using the waters
residual heat around seven
to eight degrees to regasify
its liquefied natural gas
(LNG). Subsequently the
water will flow back into
the harbour at normal
temperature.
Co Hamers, Manager
Business Development of
E.ON Benelux, is enthusias-
tic about the deal arranged
through the intermediation of
the Port of Rotterdam
Authority with the new LNG
terminal. Its a wonderful
example of how residual
GATE TERMINAL:
GAS ACCESS TO
EUROPE VIA THE
MAASVLAKTE
It will come on stream in September 2011: Gate, the rst Dutch LNG
terminal which is jointly being established by the independent service
providers Vopak and Gasunie as a service hub for gas traders. From then
on, four launching customers will be able to feed twelve billion m
3
(bcm)
from the Maasvlakte into the Dutch gas network and, with that, Europes
gas infrastructure.
flows of one user can be
usefully redeployed by
another. We at E.ON are
strong proponents of this
kind of clustering. For
example, on the Maasvlakte
we also produce both
electricity and steam for our
neighbour, chemicals
manufacturer Lyondell and
were about to do the same
for Nestes new biodiesel
plant situated a little further
along. As part of the
arrangement we then
receive certain residuals
from them, that we can
use for our production
processes in turn. Through
these kinds of initiatives its
possible to combine the
environment with economics
in an excellent way.
PHOTO
Branko Pokorny (l)
and Ulco Vermeulen
8 PORT SPECIAL ROTTERDAM YOUR WORLD-CLASS ENERGY PORT 9
ENECO & NUON:
WINNING
WIND
In the future, Rotterdam will
probably be the rst location
to cost-competitively generate
wind energy, without the need
for subsidies. Wolbert Allaart,
Head of Renewables at energy
company Nuon and Marc van
der Linden, Managing Director
Wind at energy company
Eneco, talk about their plans
and ambitions in the port.
What you need is heavy and
consistent wind.
PHOTO
Wolbert Allaart (l) and
Marc van der Linden
Divided between onshore and offshore,
we as Nuon now have 334 megawatts
(MW) of wind power capacity in the
Benelux, says Allaart. Our ambition is to
expand this to at least 1400 MW by 2020.
The wind farms of competitor Eneco are
located onshore and offshore in the
Netherlands, Belgium and England.
Van der Linden: Our current capacity is
good for approximately 420 MW in total;
we want to grow as well, both onshore
and offshore.
ALMOST DOUBLE
At present, Eneco has six own wind farms
in the Rotterdam region and shares a
seventh one with Nuon along the dike of
the Slufter at the most south-westerly
corner of the Maasvlakte, which is now
still situated directly on the North Sea.
The two companies have serious plans to
jointly repower the current seventeen wind
turbines here (nine of Nuon, eight of
Eneco).
Allaart and Van der Linden: From about
25 MW, we want to scale up to 40 MW.
The most optimum way to achieve this is
currently being studied by the joint project
group which the Port of Rotterdam
Authority have instigated. What we are
looking for is the optimum economic
configuration. The current wind turbines
on the Slufter each have a capacity of 1.5
MW. They could for example be replaced
by wind turbines with a capacity of 3 MW.
If we however install larger turbines, then
we can position less of them than the
current seventeen. We therefore think that
we will come to 40 MW, almost double the
current capacity. Depending on, among
other things, the permit procedure, Nuon
and Eneco expect to have realised the
repowering project in 2014 - 2015.
I DEAL FOR WI NDPOWER
According to both wind experts, the port
of Rotterdam is ideal for the generation of
wind power. What you need is heavy and
consistent wind. In addition, you are
confronted less with the not-in-my-back-
yard syndrome in the port. Also in view of
ongoing technological developments, the
port could in the future be the first
location where wind power becomes
cost-competitive and can do without
subsidies. This currently is not yet the
case. On top of the regular electricity
price, a contribution from the government
is essential. Of all the sources of
alternative energy, wind power however is
already in the most advanced stage and
one of the main instruments in terms of
increasing sustainability.
OPPORTUNITI ES AT MAASVLAKTE 2
Independently from one another, Nuon
and Eneco are of course also keenly
following the development of Maasvlakte
2, the new port area which Rotterdam is
currently constructing in the North Sea.
As far as both Allaart and Van der Linden
are concerned, this site should accommo-
date a lot of room for wind energy. The
location is ideally suited for this. A major
advantage is that wind farms can
optimally be designed for this new area.
After all, there is no existing surrounding
area which imposes restrictions. At
Maasvlakte 2, you can generate offshore
wind onshore.
With the coming on stream of its gas-
red 428 MW MaasStroom Energie
power plant in Botlek in summer 2010,
InterGen will further bolster its position
as the leading independent wholesale
electricity supplier on the Dutch market.
Together with the neighbouring InterGen
Rijnmond Energie plant (820 MW
and operational since 2004), the new
MaasStroom plant will provide around
7.5 percent of Dutch electricity needs.
Its no coincidence that the international power
generator InterGen views the Netherlands as its
core European market together with the United
Kingdom, commercial director Europe Andrew
Blumfield explains. Elsewhere in Europe the power
market is dominated by huge, vertically integrated
energy utilities that combine generation with retail;
de facto theres little room for newcomers. In the
Netherlands the energy market is genuinely open
and the competition engendered by newcomers is
positively welcomed by the government. Competi-
tion should be encouraged, Blumfield says.
As a wholesaler, InterGen must be sure that
vertically integrated companies dont subsidise
their own power generation with income from their
retail activities.
STEAM
The Rotterdam industrial area is a particularly
attractive location for InterGen. Here InterGen can
supply not only power but also steam, which
represents an environmentally friendly way of
utilising heat. For the combined heat and power
Rijnmond plant, the Port of Rotterdam Authority
made available a site flanking the Shell Pernis
refinery, a major consumer of steam. Blumfield: It
has to be said that the port authorities were
extremely supportive in all areas. And of course all
basic facilities are already here: water, gas via the
Netherlands internationally accessible gas network
and electricity transport to the high-voltage grid.
Thats why InterGen was eager to develop its
MaasStroom Energie power plant right alongside
the existing Rijnmond Energie plant, in this way
taking advantage of the future demand for electric-
ity on the Dutch market. Blumfield: Theres a grow-
ing need for power generation. The future is bright
for efficient, low-energy, low-emission power
stations that are also flexible to be able to co-oper-
ate with wind energy to guarantee sufficient
capacity. Dont forget that 30 percent of the
existing Dutch power stations are over 25 years
old.
GREEN PLAYER
Over the next twenty years, the MaasStroom
Energie power plant will generate electricity for
energy utility Oxxio according to a tolling agree-
ment. This means that Oxxio will supply the gas
and buy the electricity. Oxxio, a subsidiary of
Britains Centrica, is a relative newcomer to the
liberalised Dutch energy market. It now serves
some 800,000 households, making it the fourth
largest energy supplier on the Dutch market. The
company profiles itself as a green player, and as
such InterGen was the right partner.
Blumfield: Designed and built by Siemens, the
MaasStroom F-class power plant is the Nether-
lands first that minimizes nitrogen emissions by
voluntarily installing Selective Catalytic Reduction.
Not only that, but its carbon emissions are also low,
its fuel use efficient and the plant needs a minimum
of water thanks to its air-cooled condenser.
Altogether, its 25 percent more efficient than the
older gas-fired power stations currently operating
in the Netherlands.
PHOTO
Andrew Blumfield
Plans
Blumfield: The next step for
InterGen is the development
of a 900 MW power plant in
Moerdijk, which should be
operational by 2013. Thatll
take InterGens total
investments in the Nether-
lands within a single decade
to over two billion euros.
FREE
REIN FOR
INDEPENDENT
INTERGEN
10 PORT SPECIAL ROTTERDAM YOUR WORLD-CLASS ENERGY PORT 11
Europa haven
M
ississippihaven
B
e
e
r k
a
n
a
a
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Yangtzehaven
Amazonehaven
H
a
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6e Petroleumhaven
8e Petroleumhaven
D
in
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a
ve
n
B
e
n
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lu
xh
a
ve
n
4e Petroleumhaven
5e Petroleumhaven
7e Petroleumhaven
Hartelkanaal
Hartelkanaal
Calandkanaal
Maasmond
Gat van Hawk
Oostvoornse Meer
Brielse Meer Oosterlandse Rak
Brielse Meer
Brittannihaven
Seinehaven
Sint- Laurenshaven
C he m
i e h a v e n
Botlek
3e Petroleum
haven
3e Petroleumhaven
1e Petroleum
haven
2e Petroleumhaven
Eemhaven
Waalhaven
Maashaven
Beerenplaat
Hol landsche IJ ssel
Wa
a
l
Hartelkanaal
North Sea
B
rie
lse
G
a
t
Oude Maas
Oude Maas
Nieuwe Waterweg
Nieuwe Maas
Nieuwe
Ma
as
Scheur
Breekw
ater
Wa
a
l
10
8
1
11
13
5
9
7
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1
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Botlekbridge
& tunnel
Hartelbridge
Brielse bridge
Thomassen-
tunnel
Maastunnel
Willemsbridge
Van Brienenoord
bridge
Harmsen bridge
Calandbridge
Dintelhaven
railwaybridge
Suurhoffbridge
Hartelkering
Dintelhavenbridge
Botlek-
railwaytunnel
Beneluxtunnel
Algera
bridge
Oostvoorne
Hoek van Holland
's-Gravenzande
Naaldwijk
Maassluis Vlaardingen
Rotterdam
Krimpen a/d
IJssel
Ridderkerk
Brielle
Rozenburg
Schiedam
Erasmusbridge
Trac

Kortsluitroute
Maeslant kering
Emplacement Maasvlakte West
Spijkenisser
bridge
T oeko m
s t i g HS L t r ac
Stadion
De Kuip
Rotterdam Airport
World
Port
Center
Maasvlakte
Europoort
Botlek
Eem- & Waalhaven
Fruitport
'Maasvlakte 2'
under construction
Slufter
10
1
3
1
1
20
21
17
19
16
14
18 18
18
1
2
24
25
26
27 22 23
5
6
4
Europa haven
M
ississippihaven
B
e
e
r k
a
n
a
a
l
Yangtzehaven
Amazonehaven
H
a
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ven
Beergat
6e Petroleumhaven
8e Petroleumhaven
D
in
te
lh
a
ve
n
B
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n
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lu
xh
a
ve
n
4e Petroleumhaven
5e Petroleumhaven
7e Petroleumhaven
Hartelkanaal
Hartelkanaal
Calandkanaal
Maasmond
Gat van Hawk
Oostvoornse Meer
Brielse Meer Oosterlandse Rak
Brielse Meer
Brittannihaven
Seinehaven
Sint- Laurenshaven
C he m
i e h a v e n
Botlek
3e Petroleum
haven
3e Petroleumhaven
1e Petroleum
haven
2e Petroleumhaven
Eemhaven
Waalhaven
Maashaven
Beerenplaat
Hol landsche IJ ssel
Wa
a
l
Hartelkanaal
North Sea
B
rie
lse
G
a
t
Oude Maas
Oude Maas
Nieuwe Waterweg
Nieuwe Maas
Nieuwe
Ma
as
Scheur
Breekw
ater
Wa
a
l
10
8
1
11
13
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9
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4
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3 2
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3
2
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13
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5
4
10
8 6
9
Botlekbridge
& tunnel
Hartelbridge
Brielse bridge
Thomassen-
tunnel
Maastunnel
Willemsbridge
Van Brienenoord
bridge
Harmsen bridge
Calandbridge
Dintelhaven
railwaybridge
Suurhoffbridge
Hartelkering
Dintelhavenbridge
Botlek-
railwaytunnel
Beneluxtunnel
Algera
bridge
Oostvoorne
Hoek van Holland
's-Gravenzande
Naaldwijk
Maassluis Vlaardingen
Rotterdam
Krimpen a/d
IJssel
Ridderkerk
Brielle
Rozenburg
Schiedam
Erasmusbridge
Trac

Kortsluitroute
Maeslant kering
Emplacement Maasvlakte West
Spijkenisser
bridge
T oeko m
s t i g HS L t r ac
Stadion
De Kuip
Rotterdam Airport
World
Port
Center
Maasvlakte
Europoort
Botlek
Eem- & Waalhaven
Fruitport
'Maasvlakte 2'
under construction
Slufter
10
1
3
1
1
20
21
17
19
16
14
18 18
18
1
2
24
25
26
27 22 23
5
6
4
(AS FROM 2013) MAASVLAKTE 2 MAASVLAKTE EUROPOORT BOTLEK PERNIS
GAS AND POWER,
COAL AND BIOMASS
Gas fired
1 Enecogen (Eneco, DONG) [2011]
2 E.ON Galileistraat
3 Rijnmond Energie
Maasstroom Energie [2011]
Coal and biomass fired
4 E.ON MPP1 & 2
E.ON MPP3 [2012]
5 Electrabel [2013]
Renewables
6 AVR BEC
Natural gas terminals
7 GATE Terminal [2011]
8 LNG-Peakshaver Gasunie)
Coal and biomass terminals
9 EMO
10 European Bulk Services (Botlek)
11 European Bulk Services (Europoort)
12 Rotterdam Bulk Terminal
13 EECV
UTILITIES
Industrial gases and water
1 Air Products (Pernis)
2 Air Products (Botlek)
3 Air Products (HyCo4)
4 Air Liquide
5 Evides Industriewater
6 Linde Gas Benelux
7 Linde Gas Benelux (CO
2
compression)
Steam and power
8 AVR
9 E.ON Utility Centre Maasvlakte Leftbank (UCML)
10 Europoort Utility Partners (Air Products, Eneco)
11 Eurogen (Air Liquide, Eneco,Lyondell, Huntsman)
Enecal (Air Liquide, Eneco)
12 Air Products / Electrabel
13 PerGen (Air Liquide)
WIND ENERGY
Planned Wind turbines
Existing Wind turbines
ROTTERDAM
ENERGY PORT
12 PORT SPECIAL ROTTERDAM YOUR WORLD-CLASS ENERGY PORT 13
ELECTRABEL BUILDS
ON THE FUTURE
Electrabel is the largest producer of electricity in the Netherlands.
Whats more, the subsidiary of Group GDF SUEZ is currently
building a new, state-of-the-art coal and biomass-red plant of 800
MW in Rotterdam. Ruud Bos, CEO of Electrabel in the Netherlands,
and Director of Strategy Wim Wolters: Together with E.ON, we
are at the same time concretely tackling the CO
2
issue.
The construction of Electrabels new coal and
biomass-fired power plant at the Maasvlakte is
in full swing. Bos: In total, we are investing over
one billion euros in the project, which will come
on stream in 2013. In terms of efficiency, the
plant will rank among the best in the world. Most
coal-fired plants in Europe have an efficiency ratio
of 38-40 percent; for our new plant, this will be 46
percent, Bos explains. In addition, we have the
opportunity to co-fire quite some biomass. In this
way, we contribute even more to a sustainable
production of energy.
The decision to set up operations in Rotterdam
was fairly straightforward for Electrabel. Wolters:
From a European perspective, the Netherlands,
and particularly Rotterdam, really is an excellent
location for a coal and biomass plant. This has
everything to do with logistics. The dry bulk
terminal of EMO lies next to our new plant. The
coal will simply be moved to us by conveyor belt.
ATTITUDE SHI FT NECESSARY
The quantity of biomass that the power plant will
be able to co-fire depends on a number of factors.
From a technical point of view, there is the type
of biomass, Wolters says. If we can make an
optimum choice in this regard, then I think that
we could come pretty close to a co-firing ratio
of 50 to 60 percent. With lower quality biomass,
this percentage will of course be less. The
co-firing of biomass however also has a financial
component to it: subsidy is essential. Bos about
this issue: Whether we will actually be able to
achieve the sustainability goals is not only a
technological, but also a political issue. It is the
euros. Bos: The remainder will be equally financed
by E.ON and Electrabel. That involves substantial
amounts of money. CO
2
capture in addition has a
significant negative impact on the efficiency of a
power plant and leads to higher operational costs.
But we are aware of our corporate social responsi-
bility and I am convinced that we can improve the
technology. In conjunction with the European CO
2

trading scheme and the cost reductions which will
occur once the technology is mature, we expect
that a viable CCS structure will be possible
somewhere between 2020 and 2030.
CO
2
PRI CE
A major unknown factor in this calculation is the
price of CO
2
emission rights. Nobody can predict
exactly how this will develop in the future. Wolters:
CO
2
is a European issue. We know what the cap
will be for 2020 and that it will become even lower
after that. We also assume that the demand for
emission rights will remain the same or even
increase. In theory, this will at some point cause
CO
2
prices to rise. Bos adds: If this is not the
case, then the industry has apparently been doing
its job right and sufficiently adapted to the desired
CO
2
levels. It is not an aim in itself to have the CO
2

price go up. You can compare it to the competition
between electric cars and cars with a traditional
internal combustion engine. The latest combustion
engines are much more economical and cleaner
than the previous generation. This ongoing
improvement of existing technology still offers an
enormous potential. I am certain that the entire
industry will take its responsibility and try to
anticipate to the sword of Damocles with regard to
high CO
2
prices.
AMBITI ON
As far as Bos and Wolters are concerned one thing
is absolutely clear: it all begins with ambition.
Thats one of the reasons why we are pleased with
the Rotterdam Climate Initiative. They try to get
parties involved in their ambition of cutting CO
2

emission by 50 percent in 2025. Whether that
50 percent reduction is realistic? Well, if all the
preconditions are met, then yes. But that is not the
most important issue here. What matters is that we
are all working towards the same goal.
WE EXPECT THAT A VIABLE
CCS STRUCTURE WILL BE
POSSIBLE SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN 2020 AND 2030
Dutch government that decides on incentives
schemes for biomass co-firing.
DEMONSTRATI ON PROJECT CCS
We are building a clean, state-of-the-art power
plant, Wolters continues. And in addition, we are
addressing the CO
2
issue together with E.ON. The
Director of Strategy refers to the large demonstra-
tion project for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
which both parties are planning to carry out in a
50:50 joint venture. The new E.ON coal and
biomass-fired power plant which is currently under
construction at the Maasvlakte will anticipate a
capture installation, after which the CO
2
will be
transported by pipeline to a depleted gas field in
the North Sea. Although a substantial amount of
CO
2
will be involved (over one million tonnes),
Electrabel emphasises that this is a demonstration
project. Wolters: We expect the installation to be
up and running in 2015. Next, we need to gain
hands-on experience; that will easily take five
years. Never before has CO
2
been captured on this
scale. There is no guarantee that the technology
will work and be economically viable in 2020; the
aim however is to make it happen. We will work
hard on this and invest substantial amounts. If
successful at the E.ON plant, then we will be able
to quickly implement the knowledge and expertise
to our own situation.
CORPORATE SOCI AL RESPONSI BI LITY
The CCS demonstration project requires an
investment of approximately 400 million euros. The
European Union will contribute 180 million euros,
the Dutch government an expected 150 million
14 PORT SPECIAL ROTTERDAM YOUR WORLD-CLASS ENERGY PORT 15
In 2009, EMOs large dry bulk
terminal at the Maasvlakte saw a
drastic drop in throughput. By now,
the tide has turned though. Through
investments totalling more than 80
million euros, the company is readying
itself for a further increase in volumes,
partially attributable to the future
supply of coal to the new power plants
of E.ON and Electrabel.
Mathijs Pelsma probably imagined his new position
as Managing Director of EMO quite differently.
When he started on the 1st of January 2009, he
found himself right in the middle of the economic
crisis; a crisis which was felt more severely in the
dry bulk sector than anywhere else. Our handling
of coal and ore decreased from 38 to 26 million
tonnes in 2009, says the EMO CEO. A positive
effect of the crisis however was that storage at our
terminal actually increased.
NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITI ES
Albeit with the appropriate caution, Pelsma expects
that the handling of dry bulk by now has found its
way up again. With respect to coal about 50
percent of the handled volume the company is
preparing to supply the new coal and biomass-fired
power plants of E.ON and Electrabel at the
Maasvlakte, currently under construction. Elec-
trabel will be situated directly next door, at a site
which was taken over from the bulk terminal. E.ON
is already located just down the road with one
power plant; a second one will be operational in
2012. EMO efficiently supplies the existing E.ON
plant with coal via a 2.5-kilometre long under-
ground conveyor belt and will do the same for the
new plant in the future. For both clients, we
reliably deliver the coal ex deep-sea vessels to the
base of their plants. That is our core business.
Furthermore, Pelsma expects an increased demand
for coal from Germany. With excellent access from
the sea and the unparalleled possibilities for
efficiently transporting coal to the hinterland by rail
and barge, Rotterdam and EMO are perfectly
situated for this. In Germany, several new efficient
coal-fired power plants are already under construc-
tion. In addition, it is generally expected that
Germanys domestic coal mining will gradually be
phased out in favour of imported coal.
I NVESTMENTS
With all these positive prospects on the horizon,
EMO has explicitly started to invest. In mid 2011,
the company expects to commission a second train
loader for coal trains. Pelsma: At the moment, we
are loading an average of ten coal trains and six
ore trains daily. Three to four years from now, we
predict a further increase with five to ten coal trains
a day. Especially to supply its neighbour Electrabel
with coal, EMO will at the end of 2012 take a
seventh stacker/reclaimer into use; in addition, the
on-site conveyor belt system will be expanded. On
top of that, we have ordered a fifth unloading
bridge to discharge deep-sea vessels. This will also
be commissioned in the course of 2012. Combined,
our investment programme totals over 80 million
euros. As far as the EMO director is concerned,
this would definitely not be the final figure though.
Currently, we are discussing the possibility of
expanding our terminal with the Port of Rotterdam
Authority. Furthermore since we are specialised in
transhipment and storage of large dry bulk
volumes, we actively follow the biomass develop-
ments.
E.ON:
INVESTING
WITH VISION
In 2012 E.ON will take a second
coal/biomass-fuelled power plant into
operation at the Maasvlakte. Boasting
a capacity of 1070 megawatt (MW),
the new plant will be one of the largest
of its kind in the world, able to meet
seven percent of the Netherlands
energy needs. Large-scale co-ring
of biomass and carbon capture and
storage (CCS) are key elements.
E.ON is one of Rotterdam ports long-term clients.
The international energy company has been
operating a coal-fired power plant on the
Maasvlakte since 1988. Now a second, ultra-
modern combined coal and biomass-fired plant
is being built directly alongside it, at a cost of some
1.2 billion euros. Construction work is in full swing.
CEO of E.ON Benelux Joost van Dijk: Our new
plant will achieve an efficiency of 46 percent.
Thats far higher than traditional coal-fired power
plants, and as a result CO
2
emissions will be cut by
some twenty percent.
WORKI NG ON CCS
But thats not all E.ON is doing to cut CO
2
emissions.
Together with Electrabel, the international utility has
initiated a major demonstration project for carbon
capture and storage at the new E.ON plant (see also
pages 14-15). Van Dijk: As a precursor to that we
set up a pilot plant on our Maasvlakte site two years
ago within the framework of the CATO research
programme, where we capture CO
2
on a small
scale. The demonstration project undertaken in
collaboration with Electrabel is of an entirely different
order. Using that, from 2015 onwards well not only
be able to develop the innovative technology further,
but also to prove that it works on a large scale. We
want to capture no less than a quarter of the CO
2

from our new plant. An added challenge is that we
have to lower the cost price of CCS.
... AND BI OMASS
We are also keen to make greater use of biomass,
the E.ON CEO resumes. Together with a large
number of other interested parties in the Nether-
lands were researching whats needed for that and
whats possible, both in terms of the type of
feedstock, logistics and technology. Van Dijk sees
the supply of biomass also as a fresh opportunity
for the Rotterdam port in general. Of course the
biomass must have impeccable credentials in terms
of sustainability and policy makers will play a role
when it comes to regulation. In order to invest, long
term certainty is essential. If the Netherlands is to
realise its sustainability goals, then Van Dijk is
convinced that around half will need to come from
biomass. For our own new power plant on the
Maasvlakte, we reckon that co-firing 20 percent
biomass or more will be possible.
LOGI STI C ADVANTAGES
Every which way you look at it, Rotterdam has
proved to be an ideal location for E.ON. The port
offers enormous logistical advantages for coal/
biomass co-fired electricity plants, Van Dijk sums
up. The EMO dry bulk terminal on the Maasvlakte
is a very important stakeholder for us. Not only for
the supply of fuel to our current and future power
plants on the Maasvlakte, but also for various
plants of E.ON in the German hinterland.
The port offers
enormous logistical
advantages for coal and
biomass co-fired
electricity plants
WE
RELIABLY
DELIVER
THE COAL
TO
THE BASE
OF
THE E.ON
AND
ELECTRABEL
PLANTS
EMO:
EFFICIENT COAL
LOGISTICS
16 PORT SPECIAL ROTTERDAM YOUR WORLD-CLASS ENERGY PORT 17
AIR PRODUCTS & EXXONMOBIL:
TEXTBOOK
EXAMPLE OF
INTEGRATION
Leading hydrogen supplier Air Products is currently building a new,
state-of-the-art hydrogen plant on ExxonMobils site in Rotterdams Botlek.
Pim Meyboom, Air Products Business Manager Rotterdam & Antwerp and Andy
Madden, Director of ExxonMobils renery, explain the added value
of maximum integration.
a centrepiece of our European operations where
petrochemicals and refining are integrated with one
another. Over the years we have continued to invest
significantly to expand the site and to increase the
production of clean fuels. Hydrogen supply is a key
element in this. Building the new project here on
site will generate major synergies. The Air Products
and ExxonMobil plants will integrate closely and
come to rely heavily on one another.
HOW WILL THIS ALL WORK OUT IN
PRACTICE?
Meyboom: The need for industries in the
Rotterdam area to stay cost-competitive and to
continue boosting efficiency drives parties together
in this kind of cooperation. Previously refineries
such as ExxonMobil would have built their own
hydrogen plant. As Air Products we have however
proved that we can create additional value. We
focus entirely on creating these kind of products
and can combine the demand of different
customers in the area in one plant, so achieving
important economies of scale, greater reliability,
lower costs and better performance.
Madden: Its a good, logical step for both compa-
nies to build the new hydrogen facility on our site.
It will be a textbook example of integration. Air
Products will use the gas we produce here on site
as feedstock. The output of their plant comprises
steam and hydrogen. Alongside using their
hydrogen for making clean, low-sulphur fuels
we will be using all their steam for driving our
compressors that power the plant. This will replace
the steam that we currently make ourselves.
WHAT ROLE IS THE PORT OF ROTTERDAM
AUTHORITY PLAYING IN THIS PROJECT?
Meyboom: The Port of Rotterdam Authority is very
supportive, for example, through the good coordi-
nation they have with the environmental authorities.
This allowed us to talk to a limited number of
parties in the preparatory phase rather than having
to meet with six or seven different ones. As a result
the time between taking the decision to invest and
getting the plant on-stream can be significantly
reduced in this case to under two years. Thats
very aggressive for a project like this.
Madden: The project had a number of areas where
we had to interface with the Port of Rotterdam
Authority. That worked extremely well and the Port
Authority has been very supportive. Through the
focus we had, we were able to handle all the
procedures like permitting and the sublease of the
land very effectively.
HOW DOES THE NEW PROJECT RELATE TO
ROTTERDAMS SUSTAINABILITY GOALS?
Meyboom: The sustainability programmes of the
Rotterdam Climate Initiative, the Dutch government
and the European Union put energy efficiency as
the number 1 priority. In the current project, we as
Air Products are replacing an ageing plant. When
you compare our existing hydrogen facility with our
new one, we will achieve an energy improvement in
excess of fifteen percent. Thats really significant.
Normally speaking youre doing a good job when
you manage to attain one or two percent with
energy efficiency projects in these kinds of
industries. Due to the fact that we use fifteen
percent less energy to make the same number
of products, the emissions related to that are cut
as well.
Madden: Energy efficiency is the most valuable
contribution we can make to achieving the goals
of the Rotterdam Climate Initiative. Our plant is
already one of the most energy efficient refineries
in the world. Year after year we continue to make
improvements. If we look at our project with
Air Products, the integration by using their steam
effectively in the refinery gives us an energy
efficiency we dont have today. This is a significant
step in reducing emissions from the total process
of producing hydrogen, steam and clean fuels.
HOW WOULD YOU QUANTIFY THE IMPOR-
TANCE OF THE NEW PROJECT?
Meyboom: Its a large commitment for Air Products.
Europe isnt viewed as the growth machine of the
world. The new hydrogen plant represents a key
indicator of our confidence in this industrial sector.
We have invested close to 200 million euros in the
project. By making this large-scale investment we
are able to achieve the low cost levels that enable
our customers here to stay competitive in the global
arena.
Madden: This investment represents our
commitment to stay here long-term and to operate
together. It follows a number of projects in recent
years that are worth several hundred million euros.
As ExxonMobil we want to keep this site among the
most efficient refineries and chemical plants that
we have so we can compete in the global market.
We are a global company in a global business.
We can choose to invest anywhere around the
world. Thats why its very important to safeguard
the strengths of the industrial area for the future.
For this project it worked out attractively for our
companies to invest in Rotterdam. I hope this will
continue into the future.
THE
PORT
AUTHORITY
HAS
BEEN
VERY
SUPPORTIVE
facility elsewhere in the port. Thanks to the
collaboration with ExxonMobil we expect to achieve
the best possible synergy here. The new facility will
come on stream in mid-2011 and is slated to
produce close on 300 tonnes a day, making it one
of the largest hydrogen production facilities in the
world.
Madden: For 50 years now, Rotterdam has been
WHATS THE REASON FOR BUILDING A NEW
HYDROGEN PLANT?
Meyboom: The growing activities of the five
refineries in Rotterdam have resulted in an
increasing demand for hydrogen and its cost-
effective production. Based on that we saw
opportunities for building a new, world-scale
hydrogen facility, in part to replace an ageing
PHOTO
Pim Meyboom (l)
and Andy Madden
18 PORT SPECIAL ROTTERDAM YOUR WORLD-CLASS ENERGY PORT 19
PHOTO
Jaap Hoogcarspel
The port and city of Rotterdam have
joined forces for a sustainable future.
Rotterdam, the world capital of
CO
2
-free energy is the main aim
of the Rotterdam Climate Initiative
(RCI), which groups together all the
stakeholders. Were unleashing a
new industrial revolution here, so to
speak. Companies want to be part of
that.
By 2025 we want to have cut CO
2
emissions by
half compared to 1990. Whats more, Rotterdam
should also be climate proof by then, so say
programme director Wiert-Jan de Raaf
of the Rotterdam Climate Initiative and
Maarten de Hoog, head of port and industry
at DCMR, the ports environmental authority.
DCMR is one of the Rotterdam Climate Initiatives
four partners (see box).
KEY THEMES
RCI is focusing on three key themes for the port.
De Raaf: Energy efficiency, sustainable energy
and because we wont achieve our goals with
these two alone carbon capture and storage
(CCS). At RCI we bring the parties together and
support them with feasibility studies, knowledge
exchange and lobby for subsidies and regulations
so that Rotterdams goals can be achieved as soon
as possible via the market mechanism. There has
to be a clear business case; after all, the majority
of companies are not philanthropists. At present,
many of the climate friendly initiatives are not
economically viable yet. RCI is there to engineer an
acceleration in changing this. In doing so we are
emphatically working together with the port and
industrial companies. They realize only too well
that a healthy future for the port and industrial area
is only possible if its sustainable. You really have
to work on the CO
2
problem.
ACCELERATI ON
A 50 percent reduction in CO
2
emissions sounds
very ambitious. But De Hoog puts it in perspective.
After all, the Dutch national government policy is
based on a 30 percent reduction in CO
2
emissions.
If you translate the measures linked to that to the
Rotterdam region two percent energy efficiency,
opting for biomass, CCS then industry will
already have achieved a great deal. However, in
RCI were aiming to speed up the entire process
and to ensure that companies are not ambushed by
these measures but can actually reap the benefits.
NO CONCERNS ABOUT CO
2
The movement started in Rotterdam will engender
a real change over the coming years, so both men
are convinced. De Raaf: This area will be buzzing
with sustainable activities and the associated jobs
and investment. Sustainability is the new growth
sector. In a manner of speaking were unleashing a
new industrial revolution here. Companies definitely
want to be a part of that. And, so adds De Hoog:
Thanks to our ambitious approach, Rotterdam will
become an even better place to set up business
than it is already. Climate change is a global issue.
Rotterdam is the first to gear up for this and will in
the future offer the best infrastructure in which
companies wont have to concern themselves about
CO
2
emissions.
More information: www.rotterdamclimateinitiative.nl
Four partners
The Rotterdam Climate Initia-
tive groups together the
Municipality of Rotterdam,
the Port of Rotterdam
Authority, DCMR Environ-
mental Protection Agency
Rijnmond and the port
companies allied within
Deltalinqs.
MULTI -FACETED
The pipeline network is illustrative of Air Liquides
size and its multifaceted nature also in
Rotterdam. Hoogcarspel: On our own site in
Botlek, where were building the new hydrogen
plant, we already have two plants for the production
of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and a blend of
the two gases which is syngas. In addition we have
three cogeneration facilities for the production of
steam and electricity, which we operate in the form
of joint ventures. Elsewhere in the port, on Shells
site, we operate a much larger cogeneration plant.
MAKI NG C0
2
LI QUI D
At our site in the Botlek were also currently
building a facility for liquefying CO
2
, Hoogcarspel
adds. The plant is due to come on line this
summer. The new plant is a relatively modest
facility, the managing director says.
The investment amounts to 10 million euros.
The CO
2
that Air Liquide liquefies here is a
byproduct of the production process at the other
plants. By making it liquid, we can sell it to the
food industry, the horticultural sector and so on.
Nevertheless, the plant doesnt offer a serious
solution for the CO
2
challenge Rotterdam faces.
Were going to produce 40,000 tonnes per annum
of liquid CO
2
here, but Rotterdams seeking to
reduce the CO
2
emission by 20 million tonnes per
annum. Mostly CO
2
which is released into the
atmosphere through dozens of factory chimneys,
says Hoogcarspel.
To cope with the CO
2
from its own new hydrogen
plant, Air Liquide has teamed up with the
Rotterdam Climate Initiative to look into the
possibilities of capture and storage (CCS). But
realising CCS is strongly dependent on European
subsidies, says Hoogcarspel. Releasing CO
2
in
the air costs today about 15 euros per tonne, while
the costs for capture and storage currently is
estimated at some 60 to 75 euros per tonne.
CO
2
HUB
Together with Vopak, Anthony Veder and Gasunie,
Air Liquide is a partner in a joint venture that aims
to create a CO
2
hub in Rotterdam. Hoogcarspel:
The objective of the joint venture is to collect the
CO
2
in Rotterdam, to liquefy and store it, and
subsequently to transport it to depleted oil and gas
fields offshore. This CO
2
could originate from
Rotterdam, but also from elsewhere, like Germany
for example, and then be transported to the port in
liquid form by inland barges.
The Dutch branch of the French
industrial gases multinational
Air Liquide is building a major
new hydrogen plant on its site in
Rotterdams Botlek. The 140 million
euro plant is scheduled to come on
stream in early 2011, says Managing
Director Jaap Hoogcarspel. And thats
not all...
The new hydrogen plant being built by Air Liquide
is well underway. Shielded from the outside world
by high fences, the building site is a hive of activity.
Construction work is proceeding exactly as per
schedule, says Hoogcarspel. From early next year
well be able to produce 130,000 Nm3/hour of
hydrogen here. Much of that will go to our client
Neste, which is building a biodiesel plant on the
Maasvlakte. They use hydrogen in their production
process. Supplies to Neste will be transported via
Air Liquides own pipeline network, which has a
total length of almost 3000 kilometres, situated in
North-Western Europe. Hoogcarspel traces the
network on a map, showing how the pipelines cover
most of Belgium and reach into Northern France.
The network comprises separate pipelines for
oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
AIR LIQUIDE:
NEW
STATE-OF-THE-ART
HYDROGEN
PLANT THE NEW
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
PHOTO
Maarten de Hoog (l)
and Wiert-Jan de Raaf
20 PORT SPECIAL ROTTERDAM YOUR WORLD-CLASS ENERGY PORT 21
YOUR ENERGY PORT TEAM
Within the Port of Rotterdam Authority,
the commercial division Industry & Bulk Cargo
endeavours to make the port as attractive as
possible for you. Through proactive acquisition,
business development and account management,
we aim to establish long-term relationships that
contribute to a successful and sustainable future
and benefit all parties involved. We look forward to
welcoming you to Rotterdam!
If you have any questions, then please contact:
Port of Rotterdam Authority
Division Industry & Bulk Cargo
P.O. Box 6622
3002 AP Rotterdam
The Netherlands
T + 31 (0)10 252 12 30
F + 31 (0)10 252 10 20
E info@portofrotterdam.com
I www.portofrotterdam.com
ENERGY PORT
READY FOR
THE FUTURE
Rotterdam is building a new port
and industrial area in the North Sea
encompassing a net area of 1000
hectares situated directly at deep
water. Also for companies seeking to
further develop the Rotterdam Energy
Port concept there will be plenty of
room on this Maasvlakte 2.
Maasvlakte 2 will set aside at least 300 hectares
for industry, and possibly more, says Bas Hennis-
sen, Vice president Industry & Bulk Cargo at the
Port of Rotterdam Authority. Next to further growth
in the area of biobased chemicals production and
tank storage, were definitely keen to keep growing
in energy-related activities.
SUSTAI NABI LITY FI RST
Maasvlakte 2 wants to become one the most
sustainable port and industrial areas. It goes
without saying that this has implications for
industries seeking to set up here. Only the most
modern and environmentally friendly companies
will be welcome. The Port Authority aims to ensure
that power generation becomes an integral part
of the industrial cluster here. Hennissen: On
Maasvlakte 2 we will put a lot of emphasis on
reliable and sustainable power generation. Coal
gasification plants offer a lot of new possibilities
which fit very well within the Rotterdam industrial
cluster. These types of plant can switch between
power generation and hydrogen production. The
hydrogen produced can then be used, for example,
by refineries in Rotterdam for manufacturing clean
diesel or for extracting sulphur from oil. Combining
this with carbon capture and storage, a coal
gasification plant creates a climate-friendly method
of power generation.
The Vice President of Industry & Bulk Cargo even
wants to go a step further. What were eventually
hoping to achieve on Maasvlakte 2 is the creation
of a synthesis gas cluster, with a gasification plant
thats also able to handle biomass. The syngas can
be used to generate energy or to create basic raw
materials such as methanol, etc. Around such
plants a new sustainable industrial cluster can
grow up. Maasvlakte 2 is the ideal location for
that.
LONG-TERM HORIZON
The technologies that Hennissen describes are far
from fully developed. The Port of Rotterdam
Authority, however, has a clear long-term vision.
Although the first container terminal will start
operations on Maasvlakte 2 in 2013, the allocation
of industrial sites will be spread over a period of
twenty years. In doing so we wont take any
decisions before we know for certain that the plans
concerned comply with the most stringent sustain-
ability criteria and are both technologically and
financially viable. We will make no concessions in
realizing our ambitions.
More information: www.maasvlakte2.com
WE
WILL
PUT
A LOT
OF
EMPHASIS
ON
RELIABLE
AND
SUSTAINABLE
POWER
GENERATION
SANDER RIJSDIJK
Business Manager Gas & Power
T +31 (0)10 252 13 05
E s.rijsdijk@portofrotterdam.com
ABEL NOORDANUS
Business Manager Gas & Power
T +31 (0)10 252 18 34
E a.noordanus@portofrotterdam.com
ANKIE JANSSEN
Business Developer Gas & Power, CCS
T +31 (0)10 252 16 33
E a.janssen@portofrotterdam.com
JULIANA MANOLOVA
Business Manager Oil & Refining, CCS
T +31 (0)10 252 16 99
E j.manolova@portofrotterdam.com
JAAP VAN DALEN
Business Manager Biomass
T +31 (0)10 252 16 38
E j.dalen@portofrotterdam.com

KAREL PETERS
Business Manager Dry Bulk
T +31 (0)10 252 12 04
E k.peters@portofrotterdam.com
HUGO DU MEZ
Business Developer Dry Bulk
T +31 (0)10 252 16 54
E h.mez@portofrotterdam.com
22 PORT SPECIAL ROTTERDAM YOUR WORLD-CLASS ENERGY PORT 23
Reliable, affordable and sustainable: in every respect, Rotterdam is the European Energy Port. The Port of
Rotterdam Authority is opening the way for sustainable energy-intensive industry. Besides existing sources of
energy (coal and oil), the Port Authority is also tapping into new forms of energy. LNG, biomass and wind are
already nding their way to Rotterdam Energy Port. At the same time, we are also taking the lead in encouraging
companies to be energy-efcient and to limit CO
2
emissions. The Port of Rotterdam Authority is being pro-active
and choosing for clean and sustainable growth.
www.portofrotterdam.com
Rotterdam,
your world-class
Energy Port