Ports as energy transition hubs – hydrogen governance and strategic development

As the climate crisis intensifies, the urgent task of decarbonizing the energy supplies of industries and their supply chains emerges as a critical challenge. This requires a transition from conventional fossil fuels to zero-carbon alternatives. Among these alternatives, green hydrogen, derived from renewable energy sources, emerges as a viable solution, especially in regions with abundant resources. Previous research has highlighted the significance of location factors for conventional fuels in traditional locations. Yet, a notable gap exists in understanding the combination of new factors affecting the successful development of hydrogen value chains and the strategic role of ports in this new context, given their critical function as intermediaries between the shipping and energy sectors, as well as other energy users. The overall goal of this PhD thesis is to explore the role of ports within the hydrogen value chain and their contribution to the energy transition through decarbonization efforts. This research is structured around three core studies. The first study develops a conceptual framework to assess factors influencing access to green hydrogen. Through the application of multi-criteria decision-making methods, this research evaluates the site location for hydrogen from a multiple-stakeholder perspective. The second study seeks to validate and expand this framework through a comparative case study analysis, drawing on insights from various port stakeholders in both emerging and developed countries. Ultimately, the rise of green hydrogen and its derivatives lead to the development of new energy hubs, shifting the global energy trading environment from traditional to non-traditional locations. Consequently, the third study investigates how the geographic distribution of renewable energy derivatives is redefining bunkering strategies within the maritime sector.

Lara Pomaska joined Kühne Logistics University as a PhD candidate under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Gordon Wilmsmeier and Prof. Dr. Johannes Meuer in November 2022. Her research focuses on the decarbonization of the maritime industry. Before joining the PhD program, she worked as a research fellow at the Hapag-Lloyd Center for Shipping and Global Logistics (CSGL) at KLU, where she was involved in the Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion (WASP) project. Lara received her M.Sc. in Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management from KLU in 2020. In her thesis, she developed a capital budgeting model to assess the economic feasibility of the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel in shipping. In 2018, Lara completed her B.A. in Business Administration, specializing in supply chain management and logistics, at Flensburg University of Applied Sciences. During her studies, she spent semesters abroad at the Institute of Technology in Carlow, Ireland and Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. In addition to her studies, Lara worked at Hapag-Lloyd and gained extensive practical experience in the field of logistics and supply chain management through internships in the shipping and automotive industries.