A Dutch Gateway for the Future of Green Fuel

KBR begins design on a world-first terminal in Amsterdam, linking liquid hydrogen imports with carbon export to power Europe’s green transition

16 Apr 2026

Europe is finally getting serious about its hydrogen habit. KBR just landed the design contract for the EcoLog Terminal in Amsterdam, a facility that aims to be the world’s first commercial-scale hub for liquid hydrogen imports. While many projects remain stuck in the slideshow phase, this one is moving into hard engineering with a target launch by 2030.

The terminal will handle more than just incoming fuel. It is designed to act as a two-way street, taking in 200,000 tonnes of liquid hydrogen while shipping out 1.8 million tonnes of liquid carbon dioxide. If everything goes to plan, those numbers could eventually triple. By connecting to pipelines, barges, and rail, Amsterdam is positioning itself as the primary gas station for Northern Europe’s heavy industry.

KBR is tasked with solving the massive technical headaches that come with handling hydrogen. The gas must be kept at incredibly low temperatures to remain liquid, requiring specialized storage and safety systems. One clever bit of engineering involves recycling the "cold energy" from the hydrogen as it warms back into a gas. This leftover chill will be used to liquefy the carbon dioxide destined for export, creating a closed loop that keeps energy waste to a minimum.

The supply chain for this project stretches far beyond the North Sea. EcoLog is already eyeing an energy corridor from green production sites in Oman. This link would connect sunny Middle Eastern exports directly to the steel mills and data centers of the European heartland. It is a necessary bridge because domestic production is currently lagging.

Right now, Europe produces only about 20,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually. That is a tiny fraction of what is needed to hit climate targets. Without a massive increase in imports, the industrial transition simply stalls. Amsterdam’s new terminal is not just a local infrastructure win; it is the first real link in a global supply chain that could finally make hydrogen a practical reality for the continent.