With the switch to a circular economy and major investments in the energy transition, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is aiming for climate neutrality by 2050. As a major import and export hub with a very large chemical industry, we have a range of assets at our disposal as a port to limit the impact on the climate.

Almost all activities in industry or shipping are based on fossil energy and raw materials today. Unfortunately, it is those fossil fuels and the accompanying CO₂ emissions that are causing the climate problem.

 

Precisely because Port of Antwerp-Bruges has an extensive ecosystem of industrial and logistical companies and the right know-how as to chemical processes, logistics, operations and infrastructure, it is the ideal bunker hub for alternative energy fuels. By making a full commitment to efficiency and circularity and switching to renewable sources and raw materials, we are making the move towards a climate-neutral economy.

Green energy hub

As the world evolves, we evolve too. With maritime connections to more than 1000 ports, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is at the heart of international world trade.

 

It is our ambition, as an active pioneer of the sustainable hydrogen economy, to become Europe's leading import hub for green hydrogen.

Green energy hub
Pioneer of the sustainable green hydrogen economy and energy hub.
As an energy hub, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the place where the energy transition is taking place.

More efficient use of raw materials

As an energy hub, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the place where the energy transition is taking shape. By reducing the requirement for energy and raw materials or approaching them more efficiently, we are already making significant progress for the climate. For example, this may be through using residual flows from industry, such as heat or CO₂, as raw materials elsewhere.

Antwerp-North Heat Network and Ecluse: Reusing residual heat

Antwerp is the home port for the largest chemical cluster in Europe. This produces an awful lot of heat. Port of Antwerp-Bruges is aiming to limit the loss of industrial residual heat by using it elsewhere.

 

We are researching a range of concepts for using industrial residual heat commercially and supplying it to buildings in the city and the port. We are doing this collaboration with industry, the government and other social actors in the Antwerp-North Heat Network project.

ECLUSE supplies residual heat to surrounding port companies via a steam network. The heat from six incineration plants is reused in industrial processes, and serves to heat buildings.

In the long run, 100,000 fewer tons of CO₂ will be emitted each year.

NextGen District: hotspot for the circular economy

The NextGen District in Antwerp is an incubator for innovative, sustainable and circular chemistry. The former Opel site, occupying approximately 88 hectares, will therefore be given a new purpose as the new hub for the circular economy.

Antwerp@C: reusing CO₂

Air Liquide, BASF, Borealis, ExxonMobil, INEOS, Fluxys, Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Total are joining together to investigate Carbon Capture Utilisation & Storage (CCUS) in Antwerp@C . The aim of this project is to capture half of the CO₂ emissions at the port with CCUS by 2030.

Antwerp@C is a project dedicated to innovative CO2 reduction.

If this infrastructure can be realised, it will benefit the industrial port community and make a valuable contribution to the Flemish, Belgian and European climate objectives.

Jacques VandermeirenCEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges
CEO, Port of Antwerp-Bruges

Local renewable energy

As an energy and industry hub, we consume a great deal of energy. The port companies produce a great deal of renewable energy locally with solar panels and wind turbines.

 

The wind turbines at the port generate power for terminals, ships and local residents in an environmentally friendly way, without burning fossil fuels.

Het doel van Port of Antwerp-Bruges is klimaat neutraal zijn in 2050. Hoe? Door te kiezen voor de omschakeling naar een circulaire economie en door te investeren in hernieuwbare energie.

Wind turbines often supply the locally generated energy directly to businesses.

Today there are already many wind turbines in our port and they make an important contribution to green energy.

 

Zeebrugge

 

  • 50 wind turbines
  • 130 MW capacity
  • 90,000 families

 

Antwerp

 

  • 80 wind turbines
  • 200 MW capacity
  • 140,000 families

The solar park at ADPO in Kallo is a special solar-powered technology. The mirrors generate green heat based on concentrated sunlight. A first for Europe!

The solar mirror park at ADPO in Kallo is a special solar powered technology. the mirrors generate gree heat based on concentrated sunlight. A first in Europe!

Import and production of hydrogen from renewable energy

Climate change is a global problem, so it cannot only be tackled locally. As a world port, we want to contribute to a climate-neutral European economy by committing to the hydrogen economy. In a hydrogen economy, hydrogen gas is used as an energy carrier or as a raw material during a production process.

 

We do so with producing our own green hydrogen, as well as by importing hydrogen.

HyoffWind hydrogen plant

Zeebrugge is the ideal location for a green hydrogen plant. It is the place where the energy from the offshore wind turbines comes ashore and the home base for state-of-the-art LNG infrastructure.This is why Fluxys and Eoly are planning to build a green hydrogen plant there: HyoffWind. This is set to produce the first green hydrogen in 2025.

De Multratug sleepboot verbruikt minder energie dankzij haar specifiek ontwerp en is uitgerust met een roerpropeller.

In Northwest Europe, it is impossible to generate all the required energy locally from renewable sources. As such, highly concrete plans are on the table to import hydrogen, produced with green energy from countries where there is abundant sun.

 

The hydrogen modules are transported via pipelines or by ship to Port of Antwerp-Bruges. However, they do need to be bonded with a hydrogen carrier such as ammonia or methanol first. At the port, this is reconverted back to pure hydrogen, which can be used as a raw material or fuel. The imported hydrogen carriers, such as ammonia and methanol, can serve as green fuel for ships and aeroplane, for generating heat or as a raw material for chemistry. There is still a long way to go here, but it is the route we are continuing to work on.

 

DEME, Engie, Exmar, Fluxys, Port of Antwerp-Bruges and WaterstofNet, as industrial players and public stakeholders, are bringing their expertise together in the hydrogen coalition. Together, we are throwing our weight behind practical projects for shaping the production, transport and storage of hydrogen.

Cleaner sea and inland navigation

Issued Environmental Shipping Index discounts

Ships that perform better in terms of air emissions (NOx, SO2 and CO2) and go beyond the legal requirements will receive a discount on port dues in Antwerp. The discount is calculated on the basis of Environmental Shipping Index (ESI) of the International Association of Ports and Harbours. This index is used by 60 different ports worldwide, making it the best known discount mechanism for port dues.

 

The International Association of Ports and Harbours is currently updating the index to take into account the most current regulations. This new calculation method will take effect from Jan. 1, 2026.

Greening of our own fleet

Port of Antwerp-Bruges has its own fleet of tugs, dredgers and enforcement vessels. We are investing heavily in the integration of alternative fuels into this fleet and connect every ship to shore power where possible. We are reducing energy consumption by operating the existing fleet at lower revs.

 

In addition, we are systematically replacing the fleet with a more economical and environmentally friendly type of vessel. For example, we have ongoing projects with hydrogen and methanol-powered tugs. The new enforcement vessels can also run fully electric, hybrid or on diesel.

Hydrotug: the first hydrogen-powered tug in the world

The hydrogen-powered tug is a world first.The internal combustion engines that drive this ‘Hydrotug’ run on hydrogen in combination with diesel and comply with the most stringent standard, the EU Stage V, making them the most emission-efficient engines on the market.

Read more

Methatug: the first methanol-powered tugboat

Port of Antwerp-Bruges has built a tugboat with methanol propulsion – a world first. The Methatug will be sailing in the Antwerp docks from May 2024.

Read more

Two hybrid enforcement vessels

The enforcement vessels are equipped with a battery pack, meaning the vessels can run on electricity alone at 9kph for 2.5 hours. They can also run hybrid or on diesel, as the situation requires. This unique system reduces fuel consumption and ensures minimal CO₂ emissions. The integrated exhaust gas treatment and soot filter also release fewer harmful sulphur and nitrogen oxides.

Sstainable shipping

The green home port of Europe.

Port of Antwerp-Bruges

27/5/2024
The green home port of Europe.
Download

Contact our experts

Didier Van Osselaer, Sustainable Transition Manager
Didier Van Osselaer

Sustainable Transition Manager

Gilles Decan is Sustainable Transition Expert at Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
Gilles Decan

Program Manager Climate Transition

Arne Strybos

Program Manager Climate Transition

You may also be interested in this