Port of Tilbury, RWE, Mitsui collaborate on green hydrogen project

The Port of Tilbury, RWE, and Mitsui are collaborating on an innovative hydrogen project as part of a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for two green hydrogen projects at the port.

RWE is a UK-based power generator and a world player in renewable generation, while Mitsui is a global trading and investment company.

Through the MoU, the organisations will complete two parallel work streams:

A small scale ‘proof of concept’ demonstrator project to produce green hydrogen for decarbonising items of port equipment by switching from fossil fuels to hydrogen.

An initial study into a 10-megawatt green hydrogen plant. The facility will be developed on Port of Tilbury land previously housing a coal-fired power station, transforming an area historically associated with fossil fuel power generation to green hydrogen production, at the heart of the Thames Freeport.

The project will also look at options to scale up development over a 10-year period upwards of 100 megawatts. The hydrogen would be used for port infrastructure and operations in addition to providing green hydrogen to the surrounding industry.

Peter Ward, Commercial Director at the Port of Tilbury, and Thames Freeport lead said: “This is an important opportunity to support the Port of Tilbury’s commitment to achieving net zero for our customers.

“Our business has set out our ambition to be carbon neutral by 2032 and net zero by 2042 by investing in the infrastructure in the ports.

“As part of Thames Freeport, our MoU with RWE and Mitsui to develop a new hydrogen plant at the Port of Tilbury will help accelerate the UK’s path to a decarbonised economy and support our vision for low carbon logistics,” Ward added.

Steve Boughton, RWE Director Hydrogen Development, said: “This collaboration with Mitsui and the Port of Tilbury is for an innovative project combing production and industrial customer use with potential fuel switching of port equipment.”

In September 2022, Mitsui E&S Machinery Co., Ltd. (MES-M), part of PACECO Group, announced the completion and power generation verification of a hydrogen fuel cell power pack (FCPP) for a Rubber-Tyred Gantry crane (Transtainer).

More recently, Forth Ports, announced its commitment and the actions it is taking to achieve a Net Zero carbon operation by 2042.

The team is overhauling and electrifying equipment and machinery across the group’s eight ports, including the Port of Tilbury, switching to low carbon fuels, increasing on-site renewable energy generation, and promoting low carbon delivery alternatives such as rail and barge.