The Belgian Hydrogen Council represents the Belgian Hydrogen Industry in Belgium and abroad
Belgium has a lot to offer when it comes to hydrogen, despite its territory of only 30.528 km2. It has an extensive hydrogen and ammonia ecosystem, building on its ports, pipelines, import infrastructure and large industrial users, over several hydrogen technology champions supplemented with a strong hydrogen research base. Additionally, several Belgian companies are using their expertise for developing large scale hydrogen import value chains internationally.
Geographical and infrastructural assets
Belgium has four ports in a geographically very dense area, centrally located in Europe, that will play a major role in developing the future hydrogen economy in the EU. We have world leading shipping companies that are looking to ship hydrogen derivatives, such as ammonia and methanol, across the globe to our ports. Several terminals for the reception of these hydrogen carriers and cracking installations for the reconversion back to hydrogen, are under development in our ports.
Furthermore, besides already hosting the second largest existing hydrogen pipeline network that connects industrial clusters in France, Belgium and the Netherlands, an open-access hydrogen network is under development in Belgium.
This network will connect the different industrial clusters in Belgium, but also in the neighbouring regions, allowing our country to become a hub and gateway for the import & supply of renewable molecules for the rest of Europe, as we are already doing today for natural gas.
Large industrial consumers and innovative pioneering producers
Demand for clean hydrogen is set to peak in our region. A BENELUX study shows that Belgium could require up to 600 Kton of green hydrogen every year by 2030 (e.g. an increase of 100-200 Kton in just a couple of years). Our country is home to the second largest petrochemical cluster in the world. This cluster today already consumes between 400 and 500 Kton of hydrogen every year. This consumption will be decarbonised following the companies’ sustainability ambitions.
Furthermore, Belgian steel industry is looking at clean hydrogen to decarbonise by replacing fossil cokes. The steel sector can thus potentially become a large consumer of clean hydrogen. In Wallonia, cement, lime, glass and fertilizer companies are looking at clean hydrogen to reduce their CO2-footprint. In terms of heavy duty transport, Europe’s logistics hotspot is formed by the triangle between Europe’s largest seaports located in the Scheldt Delta and the Ruhr area, cantered on Europe’s largest fluvial port Duisburg. Nowhere in Europe the transport sector shows a higher concentration of heavy truck traffic, all looking at hydrogen to decarbonize the sector.
Value Chain
Our tasks
Policy & certification
Monitor EU policy and legislation, draft proposals for optimal translation to Belgian and regional legislation.
H2 – Infrastructure
Support the development of hydrogen infrastructure in Belgium with a strategic focus on coordinated use, requirements, locations …
Promotion Be Industry
Development of promotion tools for BE H2 industry.
Propose organization of matchmaking, missions … of BE H2 industry to interesting regions.
International collaborations
Establish structured collaborations with similar organisations in other countries. Identify partnering countries for future bilateral agreements with BE.
Training & education
Analyse needs of the industry & propose initiatives for development of new programs.