Recently, we have seen setbacks for green energy projects: the establishment of a hydrogen pipeline to Germany has been delayed by three years, Ørsted has pulled out of several ambitious Power-to-X projects, and the electrolysis company Green Hydrogen Systems has had to significantly scale back.

On the other hand, companies like European Energy are doubling down on projects to convert green electricity into products like hydrogen, methanol, aviation fuel, or ammonia.

Is Power-to-X a good investment?

Experts in technologies for phasing out fossil fuels largely agree that Power-to-X is essential for powering heavy, long-distance transport, including aviation and shipping. It is also valuable as a replacement for grey hydrogen currently used in various industrial processes, such as steel production. Power-to-X can also substitute oil-based inputs in plastic production and fossil-derived ammonia for fertilizer.

The question is not whether Power-to-X is necessary for the green transition, but whether it is a profitable venture at this moment—whether there is a market willing to pay the premium for Power-to-X products compared to their fossil-based counterparts. While we wait for more favorable pricing conditions for green hydrogen, it is essential to advance the technology, scale it, and apply it in real-world settings. This allows for testing, refinement, and readiness for rapid expansion once the investment climate improves.

Ports as ideal hubs for green hydrogen projects

CONVEY is a project created to demonstrate Power-to-X in a real-world setting: specifically, a port and the ecosystem surrounding it.
Commercial ports are critical logistics and transportation hubs, linking maritime and land-based freight networks. It is estimated that 90 percent of global goods trade is transported via the seas. Many ports are also energy importers, handling coal, oil, and natural gas, with some now also receiving electricity from offshore wind farms or wind turbines located on the port premises.

Because of their role as hubs, ports often attract industrial clusters where companies are close to one another. This proximity creates opportunities for synergies and sector coupling.

Green hydrogen is one such example: by using surplus electricity from nearby wind turbines, green hydrogen can be produced through electrolysis. This hydrogen can serve as fuel for transport and industrial applications. Oxygen released during electrolysis can be captured for use in other industrial processes, as can the heat generated during green hydrogen production.

Port of Hirtshals: One of Europe’s first circular green hydrogen systems

The CONVEY project will put this concept into action at Port of Hirtshals, where a consortium of ten partners will establish an interconnected green energy system over the next five years.

A five-megawatt electrolysis facility, built by Norwegian Hydrogen, will produce 550 tons of green hydrogen annually, powered by electricity from wind turbines located at the port. Part of the hydrogen will be directed to the local Biomega biorefinery to replace some of the natural gas used in its production. Another portion of the hydrogen will be directed to a refueling station built by Vireon Denmark, which, in collaboration with Vendelbo Spedition, will demonstrate the use of hydrogen as fuel for heavy-duty trucks.

Oxygen and heat from the electrolysis process will be routed to the local company Onnest, where they will support its land-based aquaculture production.
CONVEY is set to become one of Europe’s first circular port-based green hydrogen systems, receiving €9 million in funding from the European Union through the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and Horizon Europe’s research and innovation program.

Port of Hirtshals was chosen due to its favorable conditions for wind power and its strategic location in northern Denmark as a major transport link to Norway, attracting numerous industries and logistics firms.

The CONVEY system design began in the spring of 2024, with facility and pipeline construction beginning in 2025. Operations are expected to commence in 2026.

155 European ports could follow Port of Hirtshals’ lead

The European Union and several European ports will closely monitor CONVEY, which has the potential to be replicated wholly or partially in up to 155 European ports. Therefore, the project includes developing a model and strategy for green ports, including advanced energy and monitoring tools designed to manage the variable and less predictable energy production characteristic of wind energy. This effort is led by Hydrogen Valley.