Duisburg with First Climate-Neutral Container Terminal in Europe

The Duisburg port is not only home to the largest container terminal in the European hinterland, but also the first to be operated climate-neutrally using hydrogen, intelligently connected, and capable of supplying energy to neighboring districts. On the site of the former coal island, duisport, together with Cosco Shipping Logistics, Hupac SA, and the HTS Group, is constructing the trimodal Duisburg Gateway Terminal (DGT) by 2023.

(Duisburg) To implement the complete energy transformation of the largest inland port in the world, duisport and the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT have analyzed pioneering technologies and developed tailored models for the largest hinterland hub in Europe as part of the “enerPort” project. In the subsequent project “enerPort II” (funding code: 03EN3046), a sustainable energy system will now be installed at the DGT, which connects renewable energies, energy storage, consumers, and various hydrogen technologies. Key components include fuel cell systems and hydrogen engines for electricity generation, as well as battery storage.

“enerPort II” First Implementation Project on Hydrogen

“At the Duisburg Gateway Terminal, we will not only work in a highly modern, digital, and efficient manner, but also be 100 percent climate-neutral. The largest development project since ‘logport I’ 22 years ago is a model project with an impact far beyond the Duisburg port. It shows what the logistics and energy supply of tomorrow looks like,” says duisport CEO Markus Bangen.

Other partners in the first hydrogen project being implemented directly at the Duisburg port include Westenergie Netzservice GmbH, the Rolls-Royce Power Systems division, Netze Duisburg GmbH, Stadtwerke Duisburg, and Stadtwerke Duisburg Energiehandel GmbH. The project is being funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action for a period of four years as part of the “Hydrogen Technology Offensive”.

As Autonomous as Possible

“Specifically, we will implement a sustainable energy concept utilizing hydrogen that aims for a high degree of autonomy,” says Alexander Garbar, Deputy Head of Corporate Development and Manager of Sustainability at duisport. “An intelligent local energy network connects and controls renewable energies in the form of photovoltaic and hydrogen-based combined heat and power plants with electrical and thermal energy storage, as well as hydrogen storage and consumers such as shore power, charging stations, and crane systems. Future supply to adjacent districts will also be theoretically considered.”

“Inland ports are special urban districts with their own energy requirements,” says Dr. Anna Grevé, Head of the Electrochemical Energy Storage Department at Fraunhofer UMSICHT. “They provide a home for both national and international freight transport as well as other industries and businesses, and are often located near residential areas. Their further development must therefore meet economic requirements as well as climate and environmental protection requirements.”

Modular Structure Enables Further Follow-Up Projects

A special feature of the “enerPort II” project is its modular structure. It creates conditions for a continuous continuation of the transformation process, as follow-up or satellite projects can be easily connected. For example, electrolyzers or hydrogen-powered locomotives. “In this way, the terminal becomes a focal point and a seed for the transformation process of the entire Duisburg port,” says Alexander Garbar.

In the final expansion after two construction phases, a revolutionary modal split is to apply at the DGT, which envisions 40 percent of transports by rail, 40 percent by inland ship, and only 20 percent by truck on the road. For this purpose, six portal crane systems, twelve full-length tracks of 730 meters, and several berths for inland ships are available on 240,000 square meters of terminal space.

Capacity for China Trains Grows to 100 Units per Week

In the future, shunting locomotives with hydrogen drive are to be used at the DGT. Otherwise, there are no reach stackers; all goods movements are digitally controlled. For every inland ship at the quay, a shore power connection is available to minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

The new large terminal is already considered a testbed and model for climate-neutral inland ports worldwide. With the DGT, duisport’s handling capacity for China trains, for example, is increasing to up to 100 units per week.

“enerPort II” is the successor project to “enerPort I”. It examined where inland ports can be supported in the energy transformation. A method was developed that combines, optimizes, and evaluates various energy systems and power-to-X technologies.

Photo: © duisport