Market players and grid operators from the Netherlands and Germany want to accelerate the realisation of a cross-border hydrogen network. The aim is to connect Dutch hydrogen production and import with German industry. To reinforce its importance, Dutch and German infrastructure companies, energy companies and governments signed agreements in Duisburg on developing a hydrogen corridor between the Netherlands and Germany. And on its use.
The signings for a cross-border hydrogen network took place during King Willem-Alexander's visit to several hydrogen projects in German North Rhine-Westphalia in mid-November. Parallel to the king's working visit, some 40 Dutch companies took part in a hydrogen economic mission led by State Secretary for Economic Affairs Hans Vijlbrief.
Cross-border hydrogen network
Gasunie subsidiary Hynetwork Services and German grid operators Open Grid Europe and Thyssengas signed a cooperation agreement under the watchful eye of King Willem-Alexander. The agreement concerned the connection of national hydrogen networks between the Netherlands and Germany. During the subsequent 'H2 Connect event', six energy companies, bp, Uniper, E.ON/Essent, Onyx Power, Equinor and ENGIE, signed a declaration of intent. In it, they expressed their intention to transport hydrogen via the Netherlands to (industrial) customers in Germany, including North Rhine-Westphalia. Moreover, the German energy company EnBW and the Rotterdam import terminal ACE Terminal there announced their intention to cooperate. The aim of the cooperation is to supply hydrogen from ACE Terminal's planned facilities at the port of Rotterdam to German customers.
Netherlands energy hub
The Netherlands is seen as a frontrunner in the sustainable hydrogen transition. It has the ambition to play an important role both as an importer, producer and exporter of hydrogen. Hydrogen plays a crucial role in the energy transition, for example in the industry and transport sector. This requires large volumes of hydrogen in both the Netherlands and Germany. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia wants to use hydrogen to develop a climate-neutral industrial region. With hydrogen, the German state should reduce CO2 emissions by 25%. In doing so, it is about 70% dependent on hydrogen imports. A reliable supply of hydrogen at competitive prices is therefore needed.
Strategic opportunities
For the Netherlands, the cross-border hydrogen network offers strategic opportunities to develop as an energy hub for hydrogen to Germany. The timely availability of a cross-border hydrogen network (transport and storage) is essential in this regard and could form the basis of a future European hydrogen market. The Netherlands and Germany are working together on a green hydrogen chain. The neighbouring countries are jointly building capacity for production and import, infrastructure and additional knowledge of sustainable hydrogen.
Read also: NLR and ROGER build test facility for green hydrogen
Photo: Roman via Pixabay
Source: Gasunie
