Collaboration with local communities crucial for hydrogen pipeline in North Sea Canal Area
The detailed design for the hydrogen pipeline in the North Sea Canal Area was completed late last year. This means that we know right down to the last millimetre where we will lay the pipeline and how. This would never have been possible without close collaboration with the local communities.
Zhen Zhen Zheng (local community manager for the North Sea Canal Area): ‘The route we want the new pipeline to take runs through a busy urban area (the IJmond region) and a busy industrial area (the port of Amsterdam): there is a lot going on both above and below ground at both locations, so intensive coordination with the local communities was needed to come up with a broadly supported route.’
Really listening in the IJmond region
Zhen Zhen: ‘Local knowledge was hugely important in determining the possible routes, because locals know the area better than anyone. Sitting down together and thinking about plans produces good ideas, which is why we got people from the neighbourhood like Kees van der Laan involved at an early stage.’
Kees van der Laan (‘Vondelkwartier’ residents association): ‘You can see that your input is taken into account and that things are done differently as a result. They really listen to you. Being involved not only showed me the disruption and impact the hydrogen network will cause, it also showed me the necessity and what we’ll get out of it. The route we (the neighbourhood) put forward is the route that was ultimately determined to be the best in all the studies. It’s an interesting project. I’m learning a lot and actually making an important contribution to a social purpose makes me feel good.’
Space at a premium in the port area
Thomas Steenbergen (spatial planning & environment adviser) was one of the Port of Amsterdam colleagues who provided input for the integration of the hydrogen network.
Thomas: ‘In addition to the physical space the hydrogen pipeline takes up, extra space is needed for safety measures. But space is at a premium in the port area, so it’s hard to integrate a safe zone. What’s more, while you want the hydrogen pipeline to run near as many (potential) customers are possible, you have to make sure that’s not at the expense of other future infrastructure.’
‘A lot of consultation was needed between us, the network operators, customers and other land users in order to come up with a route that all parties were happy with. We make sure the port’s interests are included as much as possible, and that requires effective collaboration with Hynetwork. We’re pleased that we were able to come up with a detailed design for a feasible, future-proof route.’
News & knowledge
