There is a growing international consensus that clean or renwable hydrogen (RH2) will play an important role in a climate neutral economy. This is largely due to the creation of new opportunities in balancing the supply and demand of energy, seasonal storage and global exports and imports of renewable energy. It can also be used as an alternative to natural gas in some industrial processes that require a lot of heat, as a feedstock for the production of chemicals, and as a carbon-neutral fuel in virtually all modes of transport, especially those for which electrification is not (yet) an option. RH2 facilitates the renewable energy sector as it paves the way for further large-scale investments in wind and solar power by creating flexibility to deal with the variable supply of electricity. Enabling efficient transportation of electricity and creating long-term and large scale storage can also be a result of further hydrogen developments.

International collaboration is at the heart of our energy transition. The same goes for its widespread applications. We are ready to share knowledge, experience and technologies that will bring RH2 to the mix of solutions contributing to the energy transition. 

The ideal hub

The Netherlands possesses many good and solid assets which can help in the development of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. The country can serve as a RH2 hub to North-Western Europe, with its many ports. Because of its strategic location by the North Sea, it have many offshore wind farms; leading heavy industry and well established naval connections chose the country for similar reasons. Work is also already underway by HyStock for the first large-scale underground storage of hydrogen, which should be operational by 2026, but also Gasunie is building already on its hydrogen network, connecting DUtch Ports to offtakers, using its existing and new natural gas network, Hydrogen network Netherlands . We can act at every step of the way in the import, production, storage and distribution of RH2.

This is largely possible thanks to the Port of Rotterdam, known as the largest port in Europe, which serves as a gateway to the rest of the European mainland. But also Port of Amsterdam, North Sea Port and Groningen Seaports are active on creating hydrogen corridors or valeys. These hydrogen corridors can be set up by rail and rivers, allowing for inland shipping between the Rijnmond and the Alps, as well as the hinterland.

Rotterdam is also home to the major civil engineering project Maasvlakte 2. Here a conversion park is being developed to house electrolyser developments from a wide range of energy players. Shell is currently building the world's largest electrolyzers: Europe’s largest renewable hydrogen plant. Already mentioned are the pipelines, but also tank storage solutions that are currently used for LNG and other fossil fuels can be adapted for clean hydrogen storage.

Another strong asset of the Netherlands is the large natural gas infrastructure network, which is also one of the most sophisticated in the world. The publication of HyWay27 has confirmed that the existing natural gas network can be used for the transport of hydrogen between regions and abroad. By converting this (already existing) infrastructure, we are taking the transition and development of hydrogen to the next level. Together with our neighbouring countries we are preparing a transnational RH2 infrastructure known as the hydrogen backbone.

Dutch hydrogen expertise

With a long history of working with natural gas and being the second largest user of hydrogen in Europe, we can translate years of knowledge and experience into developing the entire RH2 value chain. The same applies for our extensive experience in chemical and energy-intensive industries, providing us with the expertise to accurately apply RH2 in large and heavy industries. And finally, with strong research and development in the field of electrochemistry, Dutch research institutions can play an important role in the needed improvement of electrolysers and innovations in consecutive markets. With five large industry clusters (including chemical, oil refinery, ammonia and steel) playing a large part in the economy, we scale RH2 solutions and further development so it can meet these industries high demand can significantly help reduce CO2 emissions.

The Netherlands takes a ‘quadruple helix’ approach to solving global challenges, whereby collaborative environments with government bodies, knowledge institutes, companies and society come together. We are all part of the (global) energy transition, and we all have an impact. This collaborative nature of the Dutch takes place not only nationally but also through our strong connections with Europe and beyond. Together, we can co-create solutions, develop sustainable business models and empower countries worldwide to drive the global energy transition. A number of collaborative research and development projects are already underway, as well as investment and funding initiatives. For example, Heavenn, a project of the New Energy Coalition, a coalition formed by top hydrogen players, focuses on an integrated approach to solutions for the transport and different uses of hydrogen. GroenvermogenNL, a research, demonstration and investment program, received more than 800 million euro towards the scaling up, innovating, converting, rebuilding and training for hydrogen and chemistry developments. And the industry association NLHydrogen works on production, import and applications and represents the industry's interests at (national) governmental level.

The northern region of the Netherlands finds itself with a unique opportunity: to cost-effectively develop an integrated hydrogen ecosystem, which can prove to be a game-changer in global hydrogen developments and accelerate the energy transition. This integrated approach allows for the best technologies from the country to come together and work in one specific region. The entire hydrogen value chain can be created here. From sustainable energy sources and production to storage, transport and applications. The Hydrogen Valley has over 30 subprojects running and in preparation with public-private parties taking a cross-sectorial approach under 4 different themes; storage and infrastructure, generating hydrogen as a raw material for industrial use, 3 using hydrogen as heat and power in residential areas, and sustainable mobility. With Europe’s first hydrogen valley, the Netherlands can accelerate the energy transition and development of hydrogen, as well as serve as an example for the international community to follow. Check: Heavenn

RH2 is highly versatile and can be used in a wide range of industries and applications. It can be used both as a fuel and as a feedstock for several industrial processes, that then can transition to more sustainable practices, which is especially useful in heavy-duty industries. Transport can also benefit from RH2 in for example shipping via both road and water and and aviation. The Netherlands carries innovation in its core, which along with first-class technical expertise means only the highest standards will be accepted. As an EU member, the Horizon Europe provides funding for further developing solutions that aim solving global challenges through excellent science and research, now and in the future. We strongly believe in the EU’s commitment to moving away from fossil fuels and towards more sustainable energy sources. The Netherlands is keen to internationally exchange knowledge and skills in many areas such to set up international supply chains, from production, import, and manufacturing electrolysers, to transport, storage, and applications in heavy industries. The Netherlands has a particular focus on the logistics of renewable energy and offers fast and easy access to the right technology providers, researchers and other specialists. 

Chile, like all the Parties subscribed to the Paris Climate Agreement, must implement the necessary actions to fulfill the commitments agreed in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and move towards inclusive and sustainable development. Green hydrogen is a key element for Chile to reach its climate goals. Based on its enormous potential in renewable energy in wind and solar energy, Chile has the ambition to become by 2035 one of the largest and cheapest hydrogen producers of the world. Transportation only takes up a small fragment of the total production cost, making RH2 produced in Chile competitive on a global scale, even though it is far from the markets that will consume large amounts of RH2.

Chile has advanced a lot in promoting and building this new industry and recently published its extensive Action plan for RH2 2023-2030.  Next to that, Chile adheres to internationally defined safety standards, support for early projects, and international cooperation. With an initial funding from various international financial institutios and the EU, many programs are on the way. Various private projects are in the fesibility fase and some already asking for environmental impact studies. The private project Haru Oni in the far south of Chile is a pilot using wind power to produce hydrogen, which is turned into synthetic methanol to produce E-Fuels. Two green large scale ammonia projects in the North of Chile will produce green ammonia at a large scale and in the Concepción area (which is an industrial cluster) a valley will be developed to produce RH2 for its industrial transformation.

The mentioned funding is made available to push the development of a green hydrogen industry and the Chilean economic development agency Corfo is leading these. Recently a Request for Proposal was launched for Electrolysers: CORFO. Chile also has an active hydrogen association which is a colaborative platform between public, private and academic parties interested in using hydrogen as an energy vector. InvestChile, the government agency responsible for attracting foreign investment, has recently updated its Green Hydrogen guide on development and opportunities in hydrogen in Chile.