Oosterhout Joins Forces for Hydrogen at Weststad

For the municipality, this is also about safeguarding economic activity and employment. 'If companies have insufficient access to energy in the future, there is a risk that they will relocate,' says Van Omme. 'It is in our interest to retain those businesses and the jobs they provide for the Region.'

Companies shared an interest in hydrogen but found it challenging to invest individually in studies for a full network connection. Thanks to Hynetwork’s new Valve Study Agreement (VSA), the municipality was able to take the first step based on a collective regional demand. 'Now that we have been able to sign the VSA as a collective, you can see businesses saying: 'Right, in that case I’m in as well.'

Significant Energy Demand at Weststad

Oosterhout has not been identified by chance. Within the Regional Energy System Plan and the province’s energy outlook, the municipality has been designated as a potential hydrogen offtake point.

The Weststad industrial estate covers 750 hectares and is home to manufacturers of construction materials as well as companies operating in heavy transport and civil engineering. These industries consume substantial amounts of natural gas and electricity. 'Some of these companies are unable to expand their electricity connections because of grid congestion, while at the same time they want to decarbonise or grow,' says Van Omme. 'As a result, they need to explore alternative energy solutions.'

For manufacturers of construction materials such as gypsum and calcium silicate bricks, there is an additional challenge. Their production processes require very high temperatures. 'In those situations, it may be more cost-effective to adapt the burners of an existing furnace to run on hydrogen than to invest in a completely new electric furnace.'

The level of urgency varies. Some companies are planning for the next five to ten years. Others are already unable to secure additional electricity capacity, for example to make their vehicle fleets more sustainable.

Joining at the Right Time

The introduction of the VSA came at an important moment for Oosterhout. The future hydrogen pipeline through the Delta Rhine Corridor will pass directly through Weststad. To make an offtake point possible, the design needed to be incorporated in time into the development and permitting process for the main pipeline. This left little room for delay.'There was significant pressure on the timeline,' says Peter Bosma, Business Opportunity Manager Hydrogen at Hynetwork. 'Through frequent contact and clear agreements on planning and expectations, the municipality, the province, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and Hynetwork succeeded in making this happen together in time.'

Van Omme shares this positive perspective. 'I experience the process as very positive,' she says. 'There is a great deal of expertise, clear explanations are provided, including to businesses, and the collaboration with Hynetwork has been very pleasant.'

Hynetwork is currently investigating where the potential offtake point could be located, what it might look like and what the expected costs would be, both for Oosterhout and nearby Geertruidenberg. Following the study, a separate decision will be made on investment and potential construction. The offtake point has therefore not yet been confirmed.

The Momentum to Move Forward

Alongside the study into the offtake point, Oosterhout took another important step this year. Before the summer, the municipality, the province, BIZ Weststad, Sibelco Geertruidenberg and several other organisations formed a hydrogen coalition.

'We are tackling this together,' says Van Omme. 'We want to make the offtake point in Oosterhout possible and also begin developing a hydrogen distribution network.'

The coalition brings businesses together and explores potential applications for hydrogen. The next step is for the municipality and Enexis to investigate whether a pilot project can begin before the expected completion of the Delta Rhine Corridor in 2032, using an initial section of a local distribution network. This would require companies willing to use hydrogen and a local hydrogen producer.

The initiative is already attracting additional interest. Entrepreneurs in transport and shipping along the Wilhelmina Canal have also expressed interest. The energy region and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) are involved in the broader development as well.

'The momentum is there now to keep moving forward,' says Van Omme. The impact is already visible: 'Even companies with lower hydrogen demand volumes are saying that they would like to be part of it.'

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