Monitoring greenhouse gas emissions
In line with international climate targets, the Port of Rotterdam Authority is striving to achieve a climate-neutral port by 2050. In pursuit of this goal, the Port of Rotterdam Authority aims to offer the most comprehensive insight into the extent to which targeted reductions are being achieved.
In its annual report, the Port of Rotterdam Authority reports CO2 emissions from its own operations, shipping, and the port and industrial complex (PIC). PIC emissions constitute the largest share.
What emissions do these figures include?
These figures include CO2 emissions from the companies in the port, which are mandated by European legislation to record their emissions. Legislation applies to energy-intensive industrial companies. In the port of Rotterdam, these are primarily companies engaged in energy generation (coal and natural gas plants), oil refining and the chemical industry.
What data were used for the published emission figures?
The scale of CO2 emissions is calculated both nationally and internationally using specific emission factors. Emission factors are average values indicating the quantity of greenhouse gases emitted per unit of an activity, such as energy consumption.
The Port of Rotterdam Authority uses publicly available data from the Netherlands Emissions Authority (NEa) and the Emission Register to calculate CO2 emissions in the port and industrial complex.
Each year, the NEa publishes greenhouse gas emissions from installations required to participate in the EU Emissions Trading System, in accordance with European legislation (the ETS Directive). The emission figures are provided to the NEa by companies, while the NEa oversees the methodology for collecting emission data.
The Emission Register records emissions of various environmentally or climate-damaging substances in the Netherlands. Environmental annual reports are used for this purpose. These reports are mandatory for large industrial companies that use processes posing a risk to air, water or soil. Unlike the NEa, to which ETS-regulated companies submit their data directly, the Emission Register is not an independent organisation, but a partnership of five knowledge institutions: NNIPHE, PBL, CBS, WUR, and Deltares.
The Port of Rotterdam Authority makes every effort to accurately identify all greenhouse gas emissions from the HIC. A study is currently underway for this purpose, with the support of external expertise. In addition, the Port of Rotterdam Authority enters into agreements with companies regarding their emission reductions and emission reporting for new contracts and contract modifications.
Shipping, road traffic and rail modalities
Emissions from sea-going vessels and inland vessels in the port are reported separately in our annual report under Scope 3 emissions of the Port of Rotterdam Authority. These emissions amounted to approximately 2.2 million tonnes per year in 2023 and in 2024. Please refer to the following table in our annual report (emissions in tonnes of CO2).
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.157.000 | 2.162.000 | 2.428.000 | 2.564.000 | 2.494.000 | 2.277.000 |
Emissions from heavy and light road traffic, as well as from railroad traffic, are not yet available specifically for the port. Based on initial estimates and data from DCMR, it appears that these emissions are significantly lower than those from shipping.
How can we achieve the target CO2 reduction by 2030?
As the manager, operator and developer of the port and industrial area, we encourage companies to invest in the conversion of factories and the development of new, low-carbon production facilities. We achieve this by jointly investing in the required infrastructure, such as CO2 and hydrogen networks, which will help reduce CO2 emissions in the port. To achieve the 55% reduction target by 2030, the following steps are required (source: 2024 annual report):
Due to several factors, the projected emissions for 2030 (8.8 million tonnes) have increased from the projections in the 2023 annual report (6.2 million tonnes). An explanation of the various changes is provided below.
Starting level in 2023 (2.4 million tonnes lower)
The starting level of CO2 emissions in 2023 (20.2 million tonnes) was lower than that in 2022 (22.6 million tonnes). This can be explained by the reduced electricity production from coal, lower activity in the chemicals sector, and less waste treatment at AVR due to a fire.
Captured CO₂ (1 million tonnes lower impact)
The H-Vision project, through which several companies in the port aimed to produce low-carbon hydrogen from waste gases through CO2 capture, has been (temporarily) put on hold.
Ban on coal-fired power plants (2.1 million tonnes lower impact)
By 2023, there had already been a reduction in the number of plant operating hours, which also lowered the future reduction potential.
Additional energy production (1.0 million tonnes higher impact)
The assumption that the reduction in electricity generation from coal-fired plants would be partly replaced by gas-fired plants has been abandoned. Data shows that this has occurred only to a very limited extent.
Electrification
For electrification, the expected impact remains the same as the previous year.
Hydrogen (3.6 million tonnes lower impact)
The potential for using hydrogen has not been included due to increasing uncertainty, except for that of conversion parks 1 and 2.
Other (0.7 million tonnes higher impact)
Greater CO2 reductions are expected from increased insight into projects carried out by companies in the port itself.
Assumptions regarding the calculation
We base the data in the graph on the following calculations for projected emissions in 2030. For its own opportunities and projects, the Port of Rotterdam Authority uses a CO2 model that calculates the change between the baseline and target situations, based on the CO2 levy register, where companies are required to register and report their emissions. This register is managed by the Netherlands Emissions Authority (NEa). For customer projects, we determine the CO2 impact based on the specifications provided to us by the client. The calculation assumes that the underlying projects will be completed on time for 2030, with full impact. As a result, the calculated CO2 impact carries a degree of uncertainty. The Port of Rotterdam Authority will have this emission calculation methodology externally validated in 2025, which will include other greenhouse gas emissions alongside CO2 emissions.
Assumptions regarding realisation
Actually achieving the outlined impact will depend heavily on a favourable economic and investment climate. Investment in new infrastructure and the start-up of new chains depend on developments in energy prices, grid congestion, infrastructure availability (supply of capacity to meet demand), and related legislation and regulations, and permits. Solutions to these dependencies are required before alternative energy sources can become available and the transition can be fully made. This requires the effort and collaboration of many parties. With its new strategy, the Port of Rotterdam Authority aims to contribute to this.