IEAGHG Executive Committee Site Visit to ExxonMobil and Porthos CO2 Transport & Storage Project

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) organised a technical site visit on 23 May 2025 to showcase key developments in hydrogen production and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) infrastructure in the Port of Rotterdam. The visit formed the final part of a packed week of CCUS-focused activities, following the RVO/IEAGHG CCUS workshop (summarised in a separate blog) and the IEAGHG Executive Committee meeting.

First Stop: ExxonMobil Rotterdam Botlek Site

The visit began at the ExxonMobil Product Solutions Centre in the Rotterdam Botlek industrial zone. Participants were welcomed with presentations from ExxonMobil and Air Products,

Edward Dekker Kleijn, Rotterdam Site Manager at ExxonMobil Product Solutions, opened the session with an overview of the integrated Botlek site, which plays a central role in ExxonMobil’s European operations. He outlined ExxonMobil’s strategy to achieve net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions from operated assets by 2050. The presentation highlighted various abatement levers, including energy efficiency, flare and methane reduction, electrification, and CCS. A comparative abatement cost curve showed that while options like energy efficiency and flare minimisation offer low-cost mitigation, deeper decarbonisation such as CCS and hydrogen deployment requires higher investment but delivers significant emissions reductions.

ExxonMobil plans to build a pilot plant at the Botlek site in Rotterdam, using carbonate fuel cell technology to capture CO₂ emissions from industrial sources. The technology produces low-carbon power, heat, and hydrogen as by-products. This will be the first time that carbonate fuel cell technology is being tested for CO₂ capture in an industrial environment. The pilot aims to address potential technical challenges that may arise in a commercial setting and to better understand the costs associated with installing and operating a carbonate fuel cell plant for CO₂ capture.

Mark van Wijk, Director of Large Projects Business Development at Air Products, provided an overview of the company’s hydrogen and CO₂ capture activities in the Port of Rotterdam. His presentation covered Air Products’ longstanding expertise in hydrogen production and their operational footprint globally. He highlighted plans to build, own and operate a state-of-the-art carbon capture facility at the site. Scheduled to be operational in 2026, the facility will produce CCS-abated “blue” hydrogen to supply ExxonMobil’s Rotterdam refinery and other industrial customers. Upon completion, it is set to become the largest blue hydrogen plant in Europe.

Second leg: Bus Tour of the Air Products HyCO4 Hydrogen Plant and Porthos

The second part of the visit involved a bus tour of the HyCO4 hydrogen plant, operated by Air Products in the Rotterdam Botlek industrial zone. Participants were driven past major physical components of the facility. HyCO4 produces hydrogen using steam methane reforming (SMR) technology playing a vital role in the regional energy network. The plant is scheduled for a retrofit to integrate carbon capture, enabling the production of blue hydrogen. Once operational in 2026, the captured CO₂ will be transported through the Porthos (Port of Rotterdam Transport Hub and Offshore Storage) infrastructure and stored in depleted gas fields beneath the North Sea.

En route to the compressor station, participants made a stop at Portlantis, the new home of an education and information centre dedicated to increasing public understanding of the port’s industrial and energy activities, where lunch was served.

Final leg: Compressor Station (Interactive 3D Walkthrough)

The third and final leg of the tour featured an interactive 3D walkthrough briefing of the Porthos compressor station under development. Using a navigable digital visualisation, participants were taken through the station’s layout, showing key infrastructure components and system functionality.  The station is designed to accommodate six compressors, with three units scheduled for installation during the initial phase. These will compress CO₂, delivered in a gaseous state at 35 bar to a pressure of up to 180 bar. The high-pressure CO₂ will then be transported via a 22-kilometre pipeline to the P18-A platform located in a depleted North Sea gas field for storage.

This virtual briefing was complemented by a roadside view during the bus tour, offering participants a look at sections of the 30 km CO₂ transport pipeline infrastructure positioned along the route and awaiting assembly

Conclusion

It is only fitting to commend the Netherlands for demonstrating how CCS can move from concept to execution. As global momentum for CCUS continues to build, the Dutch experience stands as a compelling model for turning vision into implementation.

Many thanks to Martijn van de Sande (RVO) for hosting the IEAGHG Membership in Rotterdam.