Transatlantic Clean Hydrogen & E-Fuels Trade Flows Workshop (May 19, 2026 | Rotterdam, Netherlands)

Collocated at WHS '26 (WHS 2026), Catalyst hosted a workshop together w/ NLHydrogen, the Port of Rotterdam, and NBSO Texas. Bringing together nearly 40 senior industrial leaders, energy economists, and international delegations—including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) and the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK)—the session served as the platform for a landmark MoU signing ceremony between GEC, NLHydrogen, and the Port of Rotterdam to formalize and operationalize the transatlantic low-carbon energy corridor.

H2 Trade Flows 26Q2

Gulf Energy Catalyst CEO Brett Perlman joined hosts from Stanford, EPRI, and SEP to moderate the 2nd annual H2 trade flows workshop in Houston. We discussed market-making policies, maritime logistics, and forming the Transatlantic H2 corridor. Attendees included Catalyst members, representatives from the Houston energy industry, and a large int’l contingent.

CERAweek 2026 Agora Panel

At CERAweek 2026 Catalyst CEO Brett Perlman appeared on the panel, "Beyond Fuel: Disrupting Incumbent Markets with Low-Carbon Hydrogen," together with Catalyst member Woodside and Catalyst partner Louisiana Economic Development. The discussion focused on the commercial pathways for local production to disrupt incumbent energy markets by leveraging existing infrastructure and regional policy support in Texas & Louisiana.

Houston-Tokyo Clean Energy Collaboration Summit: February 4, 2026 (In-Person, Houston): This high-level summit with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) marked a transition toward specific supply-chain matching between Gulf Coast production and Japanese demand. The dialogue prioritized a "Stepping Stone" strategy focusing on Blue Ammonia and e-Methane to build volume, while technical sessions provided deep dives into hydrogen applications for data center power resilience and the decarbonization of maritime logistics.

Netherlands Ambassador Summit: Houston, January 13, 2026: Closed-door, strategic dialogue with Ambassador Birgitta Tazelaar focused on deepening the Netherlands–Gulf Coast collaboration, building directly on the momentum from the prior NBSO trade mission cycle. The discussion centered on accelerating the NL–US corridor through faster MoUs and joint work-streams, specifically targeting deal-flow opportunities in ports, derivatives, and logistics to reinforce Rotterdam and Hamburg as the natural gateways for transatlantic hydrogen trade with the US Gulf Coast.

NBSO Innovation Mission Roundtable: November 20, 2025: This roundtable focused on deepening Texas–Netherlands cooperation regarding hydrogen storage, transport infrastructure, and market design. Participants explored the energy and infrastructure nexuses required for a Houston–Rotterdam corridor, highlighting the strategic role of salt cavern storage and the emerging demand from Internet Data Centers (IDCs) on both sides of the Atlantic.

Keynote Speakers:

  • Lissette Den Breems, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

  • Robert Simons, Vice Mayor of Rotterdam