Port of Rotterdam to capture CO2 and store it under the sea-floor

Harbour company Rotterdam (HbR) wants to start capturing CO2, emitted by the harbour activities, and store them in the empty gas fields under the sea-floor. “An ambitious goal”, says HbR’s CEO, Allard Castelein, “but we need to start capturing and storing CO2 emissions to be able to achieve the Paris’ climate goals. We want to decrease emissions in the harbour with 49% by 2030.”

Earlier the harbour of Rotterdam had offered the harbour of Antwerp to join forces for the reduction and storage of CO2 emission.

Financing of the project

According to a collective feasibility study of HbR, gas company (Gasunie) and energy management the Netherlands (Energiebeheer Nederland) capturing and storing CO2 is technically possible.

Financing the plans still need further development. Costs for the implementation of a CO2 connection, accessible for all companies in the harbour, and the capturing and storing installation are estimated at 400 to 500 euro.

Porthos

Castelein is negotiating participation in the so-called Porthos project (Port of Rotterdam CO2 Transport Hub and Offshore Storage) of ‘the big international companies’, Shell, ExxonMobil and BP. They have large refineries in the harbour and are the next most important CO2 emitters after the coal-fired power stations. The ‘big three’ have raised funds together for sustainable projects.

Final decision by 2019

The Porthos project is very important for HbR, the biggest CO2 emitter in the Netherlands. It has to become part of the new climate law (Klimaatwet) on which Dutch Minister of Economics, Eric Wiebes (VVD), is working. The three initiators want to have clarity about possible subsidies for the Rotterdam project by this summer. Final investment decision will be taken by 2019.

Haven wil in 2020 beginnen met opslag CO2 onder zeebodem