The Freeport of Ventspils Participates in a Baltic Sea Ports Hydrogen Green Fuel Technology Development Project

Author: Freeport of Ventspils Authority

To make shipping more environmentally friendly, the European Union is developing projects that promote the use of alternative fuels. One such initiative is the H2Derivatives@BSP project, a collaboration between seven European countries, which is set to play a significant role in this transition. Its goal is to develop hydrogen-based alternative fuel infrastructure in Baltic Sea ports. The Freeport of Ventspils Authority is one of the leading partners in the project and will be responsible for developing the technical and business model for the production and use of renewable energy and alternative fuels in ports.

​During the H2Derivatives@BSP project, market research will be conducted, investment plans for production capacity expansion will be developed, and green fuel processing technologies in ports will be improved. Additionally, safety standards for bunkering will be established to facilitate the use of hydrogen and hydrogen-based alternative fuels (e-methanol, ammonia) in shipping. This will help reduce maritime transport emissions in line with the EU regulation “FuelEU Maritime,” which aims to cut ship fuel emissions by 80% by 2050.
The Freeport of Ventspils Authority will lead the development of a planning and optimization model, creating scenarios for hydrogen and hydrogen-based sustainable fuel production and investment, relying on local renewable energy resources.
The project will last for three years: in the first year, market research and solution development will be carried out; in the second year, technology and solution testing will take place; and in the third year, implementation and dissemination of solutions will occur.
At the beginning of March, the first project partner meeting was held in Hamburg, bringing together leading port and alternative fuel experts from the Baltic Sea region. During the meeting, the main project objectives, work plan, and activities were discussed, including the improvement of alternative fuel infrastructure in ports and the development of green energy supply chains. The Freeport of Ventspils Authority was represented at the event by Kaspars Liepiņš, the developer of the Renewable Energy Cluster.
The project is part of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region program, coordinated by the experienced consultancy firm Hamburg Port Consulting. It involves business support organizations, energy producers and suppliers, shipping lines, as well as higher education institutions and research institutes from Denmark, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia. The project will foster closer cooperation with other Baltic and North Sea ports already working on hydrogen infrastructure solutions and the development of export/import chains.
As an infrastructure hub, the Port of Ventspils has significant potential to contribute to the future hydrogen economy and become a center for alternative fuel production and export. This would strengthen Ventspils' position as a hub for sustainable energy solutions in the Baltic region, promoting its transformation from a fossil energy port to a renewable energy resource port.