Transporting ammonia from North Sea Port to the hinterland via Zeeland and Flanders is technically feasible

Several companies in North Sea Port have plans to import and store ammonia in Vlissingen and Terneuzen. North Sea Port, Smart Delta Resources and the Province of Zeeland therefore commissioned a study into how ammonia can be transported safely and efficiently to the hinterland via Belgium. This feasibility study shows that an ammonia pipeline is technically possible, safe and could also be economically viable in the long term. However, concrete realisation is not expected in the short term. 

This means that a pipeline from North Sea Port to Antwerp and the German Ruhr area will be profitable as soon as sufficient ammonia is transported and this becomes cheaper than transport by ship or train. This requires close consultation with the Dutch and Belgian authorities on, among other things, clear agreements on safety. 

Three forms of transport remain necessary 

In order to organise the transport of ammonia effectively in the coming years, it is necessary to develop three forms of transport simultaneously: rail, inland waterways and pipeline. For smaller quantities, transport by rail is the cheapest option. For medium-sized volumes, transport by inland waterways is often more efficient. Transport by rail or inland waterway is necessary in any case to allow the market to grow and reach the scale of transport by pipeline. For even larger quantities of ammonia, transport by pipeline is the most cost-effective option in the long term. The feasibility study assumes a volume of 3 million tonnes of ammonia per year in 2040. 

Pipelines are advantageous in the long term 

Transporting ammonia by rail, inland waterway or pipeline; however, each transport option has its specific limitations and advantages. Transport by rail is already happening today. However, the railways are busy in many places and expansion literally requires space, time and investment. There are also inland waterway vessels for transporting ammonia, but their number is still rather limited. Expanding this fleet also takes time and money. However, rail and inland waterway transport will remain indispensable in the short and medium term respectively. Together, they ensure that companies can be supplied step by step, even if they do not (yet) have a connection to a pipeline.  

Looking at a longer period of 25 years – until 2050 – it appears that a pipeline for large quantities of ammonia has the lowest costs. Work should therefore start immediately on (further studies for the) development of a pipeline between the North Sea Port area and, for example, Antwerp. The hydrogen pipelines of Gasunie and Fluxys remain necessary and will have to be realised in the short term. 

Importance for energy transition in Europe 

Ammonia plays an important role in the energy transition. It can be used as fuel, as a raw material for industry and as a means of transporting hydrogen. In North Sea Port, a number of companies will use ammonia as fuel and raw material. In the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, we are seeing growing demand for sustainable energy and raw materials. Dutch and Belgian ports, including North Sea Port, can develop into important gateways for ammonia produced outside Europe and transported to the hinterland. In doing so, they support European climate targets, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and striving for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. 

The study was conducted at the request of North Sea Port, Smart Delta Resources and the Province of Zeeland by consultancy firms WSP and Aviv, together with various companies active in North Sea Port.