Preferred route for Hydrogen Network North Sea Canal Area available for inspection

Zhen Zhen Zheng, Strategic Area Manager for the hydrogen network in the North Sea Canal area: ‘This is one of the industrial regions where Hynetwork will soon be working to build the hydrogen network. A lot of hard work has gone into all kinds of studies to arrive at this Draft Preferred Route. In May, we will organise several walk-in meetings to explain it and give people from the surrounding area an opportunity to respond to it.’

From research to draft preferred route

The Hydrogen Network North Sea Canal Area project is of national importance, so the central government is directing the decision-making process. The project procedure in the Environment and Planning Act is being followed. Now, we are at the Draft Preferred Alternative stage of the procedure. Zhen Zhen: ‘Recently, several routes were investigated where the pipelines for the hydrogen network could be located. Consideration was given to the effect of a pipeline on wildlife, the natural environment and the surroundings. Other considerations were the costs of construction and the likelihood that the pipeline can remain there in the distant future.’

‘In short, the Draft Preferred Alternative is the route preferred by the Minister for Climate and Energy Policy and the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations’, Zhen Zhen continued. ‘Naturally, this choice was made with the help of results from the preliminary investigation. In addition to this preferred route, the results of the preliminary investigation (in the form of an Environmental Impact Assessment and an Integrated Effects Analysis) will also be available for inspection until 30 May 2024.’

The draft preferred route

Hydrogen Network North Sea Canal Area will run from the IJmond industrial area to the Westpoort industrial area in the Port of Amsterdam. Zhen Zhen: ‘It is not possible to reuse existing natural gas pipelines in either the section in the IJmond region (subarea I) or the section in Westpoort (subarea III). New pipelines are needed there. However, between these sections, an existing natural gas pipeline can be made available for the transport of hydrogen. This pipeline will link the new sections and provide the connection to the national hydrogen network.’

The Draft Preferred Alternative and results of the preliminary investigation can be found at: www.rvo.nl/waterstofnetwerk-nzkg (in Dutch).

Come to a walk-in meeting!

In May, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy is organising four walk-in meetings. During these meetings, you can get informed, ask questions and respond to the Draft Preferred Alternative. You are free to come and go as you please, and registration is not required.

Zhen Zhen: ‘It is important that the community be involved. That’s why I call on everyone to come to a walk-in meeting. Get informed and share useful knowledge about the surrounding area. This often gives us enormously valuable ideas. In this project, several such ideas have been further included as possible routes.’ 

Walk-in meetings:

• Monday 13 May from 19:00 to 21:00 at Kennemer Theatre in Beverwijk
• Tuesday 14 May from 19:00 to 21:00 at the FC Velsenoord canteen
• Wednesday 15 May from 19:00 to 21:00 at the SV Spaarnwoude canteen
• Thursday 16 May from 16:00 to 18:00 at the Nautical Coordination Centre, Amsterdam

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