How Rolls-Royce is Powering a Port with Hydrogen
The Duisburg Gateway Terminal is the largest inland container terminal in Europe, handling more than four million 20 foot equivalent units (TEU) per year.
The terminal now has a world first, with a new CO₂ neutral and self-sufficient energy system.
Rolls-Royce and duisport have opened this system with two MTU combined heat and power units designed for use with 100% hydrogen.
“The launch of this carbon-neutral energy system at the Duisburg Gateway Terminal is a big step toward a more climate-friendly, resilient energy supply,” says Dr. Jörg Stratmann, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems.
“Together with our partner duisport, we're showing how scalable technologies from Rolls-Royce can really help transform critical infrastructure - and help make the energy transition happen.”
This Enerport II flagship project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and involves a range of partners including Westenergie Netzservice, Netze Duisburg, Stadtwerke Duisburg and Stadtwerke Duisburg Energiehandel.
“Sustainability is an integral part of our corporate strategy that compels us to act responsibly and with a view to the future,” says Markus Bangen, CEO of Duisburger Hafen.
“With this self-sufficient and CO₂ neutral energy system, we also have a clear competitive advantage.”
Hydrogen fuel
Hydrogen can be used to store, move and deliver energy produced from other sources, such as renewable electricity.
It is the most abundant element in the universe, but is rare to find as a gas on Earth so is produced from compounds like water or hydrocarbons.
Steam methane reforming is the most common method today, reacting steam with natural gas to produce hydrogen.
Electrolysis can be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, which if powered by renewable energy produces green hydrogen.
When used in a fuel cell, hydrogen produces only water as a byproduct.
If used in a combustion engine, hydrogen does not produce carbon dioxide but can release other emissions like nitrogen oxides.
About the port’s energy system
Ports have a lot to power, from cranes and charging stations to shore power.
Part of the energy for the Duisberg Gateway Terminal is supplied by a 1.3 MWp photovoltaic (PV) system.
Surplus electricity from this system is stored in the MTU EnergyPack and made available at less sunny times.
When little or no energy comes from the PV system, power is provided by hydrogen powered MTU fuel cell systems and MTU hydrogen combined heat and power plants.
These systems supply both CO₂ neutral electricity and heat.
All of these energy and storage systems are linked by an intelligent energy management system to supply consumers at the terminal.
The companies are also considering supplying adjacent neighbourhoods with energy from this system.
“Our microgrid is running reliably and shows that it is possible to supply such a large port terminal completely independently with green energy,” says Alexander Garbar, Head of Corporate Development at duisport.
Rolls-Royce’s hydrogen energy solutions
This flagship project is the first time Rolls-Royce has deployed 12 cylinder MTU Series 4000 gas engines for use with 100% hydrogen fuel.
Each of these engines can deliver a total output of 1 MW.
The company is working with its partners to develop advanced technologies for even more efficient hydrogen combustion engines.
It hopes these units will generate the same electrical energy as currently available natural gas CHP units, up to 2.5 MW.
“As soon as sufficient green hydrogen is available, MTU gas engines, such as those in Duisburg, can also make a significant contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions by running on 100% hydrogen or a hydrogen blend,” explains Michael Stipa, Vice President Business Development and Product Management for Stationary Energy Solutions at Rolls-Royce.
