Four companies in the North Sea Canal area are taking a concrete next step to connect to Gasunie's future hydrogen network. They are doing this because they want to start producing or using hydrogen.
Vattenfall, Sunoco, HyCC and Tata Steel have signed a so-called Connection Study Agreement (CSA). This is an agreement with Gasunie subsidiary Hynetwork to prepare the connections. The interest comes at a time when the contours of the hydrogen network in the North Sea Canal area, as part of the national hydrogen network, are beginning to take shape. Last month, the preferred route for the future hydrogen network in this industrial region was announced.
Accelerate scaling up hydrogen economy
On Thursday 16 May, the four companies put their signatures once more symbolically on a hydrogen pipeline in the Amsterdam port. Gasunie subsidiary Hynetwork, Port of Amsterdam and Programmabureau Noordzeekanaalgebied co-signed, ratifying the cooperation. With their initiative, the companies want to accelerate the scaling-up of the hydrogen economy. They call on other companies to follow their example of 'cooperation in the chain'. As a Hydrogen Valley Region, the North Sea Canal area offers plenty of opportunities for this.
Energy hub
The North Sea Canal Area is one of the major industrial clusters and energy hubs in the Netherlands. Together with Schiphol Airport, it is an important area for port, logistics and industry. Industry in this region has CO2 emissions of around 18 megatons. It is important that these emissions are drastically reduced. One way to do this is by using CO2-free hydrogen. As a major energy port and fuel cluster, the region is also focusing on importing hydrogen and producing green fuels. A hydrogen network is crucial in this respect.
Hydrogen network
Gasunie subsidiary Hynetwork is realising a nationwide hydrogen network. This network of pipelines connects major industrial regions in the Netherlands with each other, with hydrogen storage and import locations and with foreign countries. The hydrogen network in the North Sea Canal area, which is part of this, is currently scheduled to be operational from the end of 2027.
Photo: Roman via Pixabay
