Hydrogen: sustainable energy for your company
By 2050, all energy used in the Netherlands must come from sustainable sources. Renewable hydrogen can help achieve this as an energy carrier. Read about the possibilities of hydrogen. For example, hydrogen as a fuel in the transport sector.
What is hydrogen?
Hydrogen (chemical abbreviation: H2) is an odourless and colourless gas that does not occur in nature. It is an energy carrier that is created by man. The way it is made determines how sustainable hydrogen is.
Difference between grey, blue and green hydrogen
The industry has been making and using hydrogen for a long time. This is ‘grey’ hydrogen. It is created with fossil fuels. This production releases CO2. The government wants to make the production of hydrogen more sustainable by:
- capturing and storing CO2 that is released during the production of hydrogen with fossil fuels. This is called blue hydrogen.
- making hydrogen with sustainable electricity, such as solar and wind energy, where no CO2 is released. This is called green, or renewable hydrogen.
The intention is to use more and more blue and green hydrogen. As a raw material for industry and as a sustainable fuel.
Possibilities for using hydrogen
The government wants to further develop the production and use of renewable hydrogen (in Dutch). Hydrogen has various applications:
Renewable hydrogen can be used as fuel in the transport sector. It is particularly suitable for heavy transport, such as lorries and buses, but also for shipping, and aviation. In the coming years, more and more vehicles will start using hydrogen as an emission-free fuel. By 2030, all EU countries must have a hydrogen filling station in every major city and every 200 kilometres. Are you considering buying a hydrogen-powered car for your business? Check where to find your hydrogen refuelling stations (in Dutch) in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg (Benelux).
The government is investigating if the Netherlands can use the existing natural gas network to heat buildings with hydrogen (in Dutch). Instead of natural gas, hydrogen should then flow through the network. For example, for buildings that are difficult to heat electrically or with heat networks.
The industry can use sustainable hydrogen as a raw material for chemical products. But also as a replacement for natural gas. A national hydrogen network (in Dutch) is being constructed for the transport of hydrogen to large-scale consumers. This network should help companies to switch to sustainable hydrogen.
Solar and wind energy do not always provide the same amount of energy. To compensate, hydrogen can be used to generate electricity (in Dutch). This is called flexible controllable power.
Do you want to know more about the possibilities of sustainable hydrogen? View the case studies (in Dutch) on the website of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). Or search the database of the Top Sector Energy for innovative hydrogen projects (in Dutch).
Subsidies and financing for hydrogen
The government encourages research into the possibilities of renewable hydrogen and the expansion of production. Funds are available for this purpose. Check with RVO which subsidies and schemes (in Dutch) are available for your hydrogen project.
Certifying green hydrogen
Does your business use green hydrogen or receive subsidies for making green hydrogen? You must have a certificate showing that the hydrogen meets the requirements of the Renewable Energy Directive (richtlijn hernieuwbare energie). This applies to every owner in the chain. Read how certification works and what requirements you need to meet (in Dutch).
Handling hydrogen safely
Industrial companies have a great deal of knowledge about the safety of hydrogen. They have been using it on a large scale for some time now. But outside industrial area's, the use of hydrogen is still fairly new. That is why various parties are working together on a Hydrogen Safety Innovation Programme. This programme should provide clear rules and regulations. For example, for parking hydrogen cars in parking garages. Or safety at hydrogen filling stations.
Rules for safety
Do you want to start a hydrogen project? Read the Guidelines for safe handling of hydrogen (in Dutch). These are temporary rules for safety in situations where there is no legislation yet. Also, view the 3 fact sheets on the safety of hydrogen (in Dutch) from the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment.
Hydrogen: working together
Do you want to collaborate with other companies on hydrogen projects? There are several network organisations:
The National Hydrogen Programme (NWP) is a public-private partnership committed to promoting renewable hydrogen. The NWP platform (in Dutch) provides knowledge and information about hydrogen and hydrogen policy. It allows you to connect with other entrepreneurs and government bodies, network operators and associations active in the Dutch hydrogen market.
TKI New Gas is a Top Consortium (collaboration) for knowledge and innovation within the Dutch Top Sector Energy. It is a network organisation with participants from the gas and industry sector, knowledge institutions and governments.
Hydrogen also offers international opportunities for companies (in Dutch). The International Clean Energy Partnership (ICEP) is committed to promoting the Dutch hydrogen sector abroad. You can also join the Platform Hydrogen International (PWI, in Dutch).