By Elcke Vels
Why we write on this topic:
From the hydrogen train to the generation of green hydrogen in the port of Eemshaven and on farms, a lot of innovation in the field of hydrogen is going on in the Dutch province of Groningen. This forms an important link in the energy transition.
Solar and wind power are part and parcel of a sustainable energy system. At the same time, we are struggling with an overloaded power grid, so these renewable sources are not always being used efficiently. Which is why (farming) companies and the Province of Groningen have started the H2-Agri pilot project aimed at producing green hydrogen from electricity generated by farmers. “The goal is to eventually make freight traffic, inland shipping, small factories, but also their own operations sustainable,” says project manager Eric Hadderingh, director of the Netherlands Hydrogen Society (NWM).
In today’s energy market, energy storage and conversion are becoming increasingly important. The congested power grid is becoming more and more of a problem. Feeding energy back into the grid is not always possible, with all of the ensuing consequences. Wind turbines are forced to shut down and solar panels are switched off. Converting green electricity that is generated into hydrogen offers a solution.
A hydrogen network of our own
Groningen farmers and other parties have joined forces to build their own hydrogen network and have since started working on the H2-Agri project. The goal is to have the first farm-based hydrogen production in Groningen up and running by 2023. Around 14 farmers are on the list of locations to be considered. In addition to the initiator NWM and farmers such as dairy farmers and arable farmers, the Province of Groningen, FrieslandCampina, Rabobank, and XINTC Global among others have joined H2-Agri. Enexis Netbeheer also announced last week that it was getting on board. For the Province of Groningen, the project fits in well with the other hydrogen projects already underway in the province. The water ecosystem in Groningen is also known as the ‘Hydrogen Valley.’
“On farmland in the countryside, there’s plenty of room to generate renewable energy,” Hadderingh explains. “Farmers often have their own wind turbines and solar panels. Together with them and the other parties, we are making sure that we can produce green hydrogen and use it to ultimately drive CO₂ emissions down.” A further bonus the pilot project offers is that farmers in Groningen are able to earn an additional source of income.
If it is up to start-up Sypox, we will all soon be driving on renewable hydrogen made from biogas – Innovation Origins
“We are going to use biogas to produce renewable hydrogen. That is more efficient and cheaper than converting biogas into electricity.”
Applications
Hydrogen generated in Groningen will be used, among other things, for the trucks of the Dutch dairy company FrieslandCampina, but also for agricultural vehicles on their own property. The pilot project also gives parties the opportunity to discover whether hydrogen has potential for the supply chain, such as for sustainably produced glass.
An exciting time
Before hydrogen production is set to start in 2024, the project still has a number of challenges ahead. “A lot still needs to be figured out. We have to set up the entire chain,” Hadderingh adds. “Think about reaching agreements and arranging permits. We also still have to research how many kilograms of hydrogen we expect to eventually produce. So all in all, it is shaping up to be an exciting and instructive time.”
National politics
The pilot project, according to Hadderingh, serves as an example for the rest of the Netherlands on how to utilize green hydrogen more often in medium-sized companies. So far, national politics has focused mainly on its usage in heavy industry, the NWM director notes. “Agricultural machinery, such as milk trucks, use thousands of liters of diesel. They are too heavy for electric drives. So for many dairy farmers in the Netherlands, green hydrogen can offer a great solution. But governments then have to provide support, for instance in the form of subsidies. It is also important to speed up the permit process.”
We need that momentum to achieve the most important goal in the Climate Agreement, which is to halve CO₂ emissions by 2030 compared to those of 1990. “2030 is closer than we think. If we speed things up now, eventually everyone who needs it can use green hydrogen.”
Innovative Groningen Archives
Read other stories about innovative projects in Groningen here.
FAQs
Impact Targets
The Netherlands aims at reducing CO2 emissions by 49% by 2030 and 95% by 2050. On achieving the green hydrogen targets, it is estimated that 0.9 - 3.2 Mt CO2 emissions can be avoided annually by 2030 , along with 4.3-14.3 TWh per year of avoided fossil fuel imports .
What is the roadmap for hydrogen in the Netherlands? ›
The Roadmap states that scaling up renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production requires mature production technologies, proper market functioning and availability of (preferably green) energy resources.
What is the hydrogen demand in the Netherlands in 2050? ›
Dutch Hydrogen demand 2050: 430 PJ/year (120 TWh)
We consider this estimate of 250 PJ of hydrogen as a new energy carrier to be a conservative estimate. To arrive at a figure for total Dutch domestic demand, the demand for hydrogen as a feedstock for industry needs to be added.
What is the hydrogen demand in Belgium in 2030? ›
Belgian Hydrogen Strategy
In Belgium, the government has rolled out a federal hydrogen strategy. It is based on a forecast that the country will remain dependent on overall energy imports to cover its domestic demand, including an estimated 2–6 TWh of renewable hydrogen (or derivatives) in 2030 and 100–165 TWh in 2050.
Which country is leading in green hydrogen? ›
The countries with the most ambitious green hydrogen plans
China is currently the world's largest consumer and producer of hydrogen.
Why is green hydrogen so good? ›
Let's go over some of its most important good points: 100 % sustainable: green hydrogen does not emit polluting gases either during combustion or during production. Storable: hydrogen is easy to store, which allows it to be used subsequently for other purposes and at times other than immediately after its production.
What is waste to hydrogen Netherlands? ›
The Essen-based energy utility wants to use its FUREC (fuse, reuse, recycle) project to build a plant in the Netherlands that will recycle the urban waste of approximately two million people annually. This would turn 700,000 metric tons of waste into around 54,000 metric tons of hydrogen.
How many hydrogen stations are there in the Netherlands? ›
Most HRS are located in Germany (96), followed by France (21) and the Netherlands (14). The vast majority of the HRS have dispensers for refuelling of cars at 700 bar.
How much hydrogen does the Netherlands consume? ›
Applications in industry
Dutch industry consumes an estimated 180 PJ hydrogen annually and is the second largest hydrogen user in the European Union, after Germany.
What is the largest source of hydrogen on Earth? ›
Currently, most hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels, specifically natural gas. Electricity—from the grid or from renewable sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, or biomass—is also currently used to produce hydrogen.
China is the world's largest producer and consumer of hydrogen.
Why hydrogen is the future? ›
It can replace fossil fuels across the board, including energy-intensive industries. Hydrogen is produced in electrolyzers. They use electricity to break down water into hydrogen and oxygen. Combustion occurs in reverse order: Oxygen and hydrogen react to release energy.
What is the US target for green hydrogen by 2030? ›
Pathways for clean hydrogen to decarbonize applications are informed by demand scenarios for 2030, 2040, and 2050 – with strategic opportunities for 10 million metric tonnes (MMT) of clean hydrogen annually by 2030, 20 MMT annually by 2040, and 50 MMT annually by 2050.
Why is hydrogen booming? ›
With a goal to reach Net Zero emission by 2050 and to decarbonize the future by limiting global warming to below 1.5°, hydrogen and low carbon fuels will have long-term application in many sectors; this will be greatly dependent on the cost of hydrogen production, transportation, and utilization.
Is hydrogen heating the future? ›
These technologies will be the primary means of decarbonisation for the foreseeable future. There is also the potential for hydrogen to play a role in slower time in some locations. Unlike other technologies, 100% hydrogen for heating is not yet an established technology.
What is the green strategy of the Netherlands? ›
By 2050, Dutch central government wants to reduce the Netherlands' emissions of greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide (CO2)) to zero. It plans to make 16% of all energy used in the Netherlands sustainable by 2023.
What is the Dutch regional energy strategy? ›
The RES is a way of working together on the energy transition. The RES is also a document in which each energy region makes and describes its own choices: how much large-scale sustainable electricity on land – wind or solar – shall we generate and where?
What is Dutch green plan? ›
The Netherlands' plan puts a strong focus on the green transition, as €3 billion will be dedicated to green investments. Dedicated measures are expected to boost the development of renewables through investments in support for offshore wind energy (€694 million) and in R&D in green hydrogen (€69 million).
What is Netherlands green policy? ›
To combat climate change, the Dutch government wants to reduce the Netherlands' greenhouse gas emissions by 49% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, and a 95% reduction by 2050. These goals are laid down in the Climate Act on May 28, 2019.
