Hynetwork completes first connection of major hydrogen plant to Dutch hydrogen network
Hynetwork completes first connection of major hydrogen plant to Dutch hydrogen network
Gasunie subsidiary Hynetwork has connected the first hydrogen plant to the Dutch hydrogen network. The customer connection’s so-called ‘golden weld’ was made between the 200 MW Holland Hydrogen 1 plant at the Rotterdam Maasvlakte and the hydrogen pipeline. The connection work was performed by contractor Hanab. This is the first time a green hydrogen producer has been connected directly to the national hydrogen infrastructure. It is a huge milestone for the project team, as this is the first time a green hydrogen producer has been connected directly to the national network.
The connection follows the successful completion of the first 32 kilometres of hydrogen pipeline earlier this year, after filling it with green hydrogen and bringing it to the correct pressure. The pipeline largely runs parallel to the A15 motorway in a pipeline corridor with crucial infrastructure, including the Porthos project’s CO2 pipeline. This location required careful coordination, strict safety standards and high-precision work in a complex subsurface.
Close collaboration with Porthos
The development of this first hydrogen pipeline route took place in close collaboration with the Porthos project. Over a stretch of 19 kilometres, the hydrogen pipeline and the CO2 pipeline are only 40 centimetres apart.
Jan Willem Rongen, Project Manager Rotterdam Hydrogen Network (Hynetwork): “We set up the projects to ensure that we stayed out of each other’s way as much as possible. Intensive collaboration between Hynetwork, Porthos and its construction partners HANAB and Denys enabled us to coordinate schedules, resolve problem areas and ensure safety together. This collaboration was essential to our success: it was a huge achievement from us all.”
Building in a complex subsurface
In Rotterdam, the hydrogen network runs through the Port of Rotterdam pipeline corridor, where many product pipelines and high-voltage cables run parallel to each other at close distances and intersections sometimes involve dozens of pipelines and cables. Despite this complex subsurface and environment, the project team not only managed to complete the main pipeline, but also laid two additional branches for future feed-in parties or customers. This will allow faster connection of future customers to the network.
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