The port of Amsterdam is ready to start unloading, storing and transhipping biomass. The sustainable energy feedstock is shipped onboard seagoing vessels arriving from countries such as Canada, the US and Brazil. Exponential growth of this cargo flow is forecast in the coming years.
On Thursday, 2 February, a delegation on behalf of the American Port Erie, Pennsylvania, will visit the Port of Amsterdam to study the biomass handling options. Port of Erie is looking for ways to tranship and sell biomass into Europe. This mainly involves wood pellets for which a market is being sought.
Managing Director and CEO of the Erie Economic Development Corporation, John Elliot, will be joining the delegation, "What we need is a market capable of handling 500,000 tons of wood pellets. Visiting the port of Amsterdam is an obvious step because the port has a major and specialist energy cluster offering extensive possibilities when it comes to unloading, storing and transhipping of biomass. Also, the port of Amsterdam is an international logistics hub with outstanding water connections with the hinterland'', explains Elliot.
During this visit to Amsterdam a seminar on biomass will be held, which will be attended by prominent speakers.
Energy port
The port of Amsterdam is an international energy hub with a major cargo share consisting of oil and coal. The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation plans to obligate biomass co-firing in coal-fired power stations, as has been laid down in the 2011 Energy Report. This means higher demand for biomass.
Transhipment
The port companies in the port of Amsterdam facilitate the discharge, storage, transhipment of biomass. By 2020 Port of Amsterdam is expecting a transhipment level of approximately 6 million tons for the Northwest European market. Biomass transhipment is possible thanks to companies such as IGMA, OBA and Maja Stuwadoors.
Sustainable energy
Sustainable energy has an increasingly important role in the Amsterdam port. For instance, mixing biofuel with transport fuels such as petrol and diesel is obligatory. As a result of this, biofuel is already being transhipped and produced in the port of Amsterdam. Bio-energy companies include Greenmills and Vesta Biofuels. Also, the port uses wind and waste to obtain sustainable energy, which today supplies for 400,000 households. In the future 800,000 households are expected to be served.
Smart port
The port of Amsterdam is the fourth port in Europe, with sustainable growth being its key ambition. Growth ensuring jobs and incomes whereby the port uses the available space efficiently. Growth without damaging the quality of the water, soil and air. Growth as a result of which the people of Amsterdam will appreciate the port region even more. These are the Port authorities ambitions based on intensive cooperation with partners in the business community, city and region.
Source: Port of Amsterdam
