Port of Rotterdam: ‘We want greener logistics in European ports’

MAGPIE has the ambition to force a breakthrough in the supply and use of green energy carriers in transportation from, to and within ports. New technology is also being developed to make transportation more sustainable and to monitor it.

Reyer Will, Project Manager of the European MAGPIE project, explains what MAGPIE stands for and what its ambitions are.

‘MAGPIE stands for sMArt Green Ports as Integrated Efficient multimodal hubs,’ Reyer explains. ‘With a total of 40 companies, knowledge institutions and other ports, we are developing 10 demonstration projects. These are aimed at four energy carriers that we believe have a future: green hydrogen, electricity, ammonia and bio-fuels. We are also looking at the logistics and, for example, the electricity network that goes with them.’ In addition to these demos, the MAGPIE project also provides smart tools. Ultimately, the end result is a roadmap for emission-free and fully digitalised ports by 2050.

In May last year, the consortium received almost a 25-million subsidy from the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme. On 1 October, the five-year project officially got underway and all teams were formed and formalised. On 10 March this year, the kick-off event takes place in Rotterdam. You can read more about this on the new MAGPIE website.

Reyer concludes with conviction: ‘It is a wonderful and challenging project in which we as the Port Authority can really make a difference with all our knowledge, our network and our experience. Together with the other ports and all our partners, we are working on a future-proof port. I also think it is with great pleasure that this project will give substance to our strategy in the field of energy transition and digitalisation.

Source: Port of Rotterdam