Groningen, Drenthe and Friesland will become European front runners, because they are the first region to receive a subsidy with a total project size of approximately 90 million euros. This is similar to the Silicon Valley model in the US state of California.
This subsidy is intended for the development of a fully functioning green hydrogen chain in the Northern Netherlands. The consortium aims to sign the agreement by January 2020, starting the six-year project.
Minister Wiebes (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy): “This is a good example of how Groningen, Drenthe and Friesland are pioneers as new sustainable energy provinces. Because the Groningen gas field will close in 2022, this project offers great opportunities and employment in the north of the country. The region has everything it takes to become a front runner in the energy transition.”
Integral green hydrogen chain: from production to filling stations
Various projects are being carried out, such as the large-scale production of green hydrogen as a raw material for industry, the storage, transport and distribution of hydrogen and the application for energy supply for both industry and the built environment and in mobility. Existing natural gas pipelines are being made suitable for the transport of hydrogen and new hydrogen pipelines are being constructed at the Chemistry Park Delfzijl and between the GZI-Next site and the Emmtec Industry & Business Park in Emmen. An underground hydrogen storage facility is provided at HyStock in Veendam. Hydrogen as an application for heating homes is realized in Hoogeveen and Groningen and for industry in Delfzijl and Emmen. In mobility, hydrogen will be used for, among other things, buses, light and heavy trucks and passenger cars, and hydrogen filling stations in Groningen and Emmen will be added to those already planned in Pesse, Groningen and the already operational filling station in Delfzijl. An inland vessel is also being built on hydrogen (H2) and green H2 is used in the production of e-kerosene for aircrafts. The heavier vehicles are particularly suitable for the use of hydrogen, which is also where the greatest CO2 reduction and environmental benefits can be achieved.
