A complex operation
After several years of preparation, construction began in April 2024. In the Rotterdam port area, the route had to navigate a dense landscape of roads, railways, waterways, and hundreds of existing pipes and cables. When it intersected with roads or railways, the route sometimes had to travel beneath 20 or more pipes and cables, all of which had to remain in operation during the construction work. This was a complex operation that required careful coordination with the owners of all the pipes and cables involved, the acquisition of all required permits and approvals, and meticulous preparation for the work.
The construction of the Porthos CO2 network was another important factor. Along approximately 14 km of the route, the two pipelines are only 40 cm apart. The work schedules constantly influenced each other, which demanded considerable flexibility from all those involved. Ultimately, this job was completed collaboratively.
Next phase
Now the next phase is starting in Rotterdam: testing, pre-commissioning, commissioning, and preparing for operation. This final step is scheduled for April 2026.
An area (conversion park) on Maasvlakte 2 has been designated for the production of green hydrogen using sustainable energy from the North Sea. The first hydrogen plant to start production there will be Shell’s Holland Hydrogen I. They will use this hydrogen primarily for the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rotterdam in Pernis, the Netherlands. The 32 km hydrogen pipeline connects Maasvlakte 2 with Pernis. Although Shell will be the first company to connect to it, they definitely will not be the only one. There will be a valve system with four connections at each end of this pipeline, serving both hydrogen suppliers and consumers. The pipeline will also have six branches at strategic points, which other parties can connect to later.
