Studying the route with care for people, nature and the surrounding area: what we do in EIA phase 2
Kelvin Peperkoorn and Heleen Sarink know the landscape and soil of the northern Netherlands well by now. They have learned where protected species are found, which waterways will be crossed and where drilling is preferable to excavation. For more than a year, they have been working on phase 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) – the phase in which the preferred route of the hydrogen network is worked out in detail. Construction will not begin until an official project decision has been taken, which is expected in 2027. In this interview, Kelvin and Heleen explain which studies are needed and why they are essential to that decision.
Mapping the hydrogen route
Before a hydrogen network is built, the best possible route must be determined. In the northern Netherlands, this means taking into account a varied landscape of farmland, waterways and nature reserves. This research is documented in the Environmental Impact Assessment.*
It consists of two phases. ‘In phase 1, you compare possible routes’, Kelvin explains. ‘In phase 2, the preferred route has been determined, and you investigate exactly what effect this route will have on the soil, nature and the surrounding area.’ This takes place both on paper and in the field. ‘You go out and look at the site: you carry out soil surveys and look at flora and fauna, water, vibrations and noise’, Heleen says. ‘That gives you a realistic picture of the effects that construction will have.’
Based on the EIA and the responses received, the State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, the Minister for Climate Policy and Green Growth, and the Minister for Housing and Spatial Planning will take the project decision. This will determine the final route of the pipeline.
*An EIA assesses the consequences of constructing (part of) the hydrogen network for the living environment. This includes effects on nature, air quality, landscape, noise, health and other environmental impacts.
From soil composition to nesting birds
For the national hydrogen network, each sub-project and region is investigated to determine what is happening in the subsoil and surrounding area. In the northern Netherlands, this means looking at soil composition, water management, nature and what is already underground. Heleen oversees the process in Groningen, while Kelvin is responsible for Drenthe, Overijssel and, in due course, the west of the country.
‘We map where protected species are found and how we can deal with that’, Heleen says. ‘That might mean working differently in certain places. Near a waterway or vulnerable nature reserve, for example, you might choose to drill rather than excavate.’
Air quality, nitrogen deposition and archaeology are also addressed. ‘For example, nitrogen is relevant at shut-off locations: points along the hydrogen pipeline where we can open or close the pipeline for maintenance or in the event of a fault. Construction work at these locations causes temporary emissions’, Kelvin explains. ‘We advise on how to limit or offset these effects.’
Safety is also examined in this phase. ‘The transport of hydrogen meets the same stringent standards as the transport of natural gas’, says Kelvin. ‘We’ve been working with this type of high-pressure pipeline for decades. The requirements are clear, the inspections are strict and the risks are well understood. In the EIA, we show how we ensure the safe transport of hydrogen, supported by the results of our research.’
Prepared for every scenario
‘Suppose you need to drill into the ground’, Heleen says. ‘You want to know exactly how much noise that generates. If the pipeline runs close to homes or an area with many birds, we propose measures to limit disruption, such as installing noise screens, or only working between sunrise and sunset.’
To do this, they look at situations where the impact could be greatest. ‘We do this deliberately. By starting from the worst-case scenario, we can be certain that the work will remain safe and within the rules, even in difficult conditions.’
That care does not stop once construction is complete. The EIA also describes how the pipeline will be managed and monitored afterwards. ‘Once the pipeline is in place, a helicopter flies over it every three weeks to carry out checks’, Kelvin says. ‘From the air we can see what is happening above the pipeline, such as excavation work or new construction activity. That can pose risks to an underground pipeline. And anyone who wants to dig nearby must first submit a KLIC notification. That way, everyone knows what is in the ground and the surrounding area remains safe.’
The results of the studies form the basis for the design of the hydrogen pipeline. These findings are used to determine, for each location, how and where the pipeline can best be laid and what that requires. ‘We look at that situation by situation, together with engineers and contractors’, Kelvin says. ‘At the same time, we use this information to determine which permits are needed. We coordinate on this with water boards, provinces and municipalities.’
Identifying interests
EIA phase 2 requires close collaboration. Heleen and Kelvin work with engineers, ecologists, permit authorities and contractors, among others. ‘You’re dealing with many different subjects and interests’, Kelvin notes. ‘Our job is to connect them, weigh up the options, and bring everything together into a workable plan.’
‘That’s also what I enjoy so much about it’, Heleen adds. ‘Maintaining an overview of a complex whole and ultimately ensuring that the construction of the hydrogen network is carried out properly and safely.’
In the northern Netherlands, village councils and other stakeholders were able to review a draft version of the EIA and ask questions. The report was reviewed at multiple levels, including by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Rijkswaterstaat and the independent EIA Committee. The combined findings of all the studies form the basis for the project decision and the further development towards construction of the pipeline.
Safe transport of hydrogen from A to B
Drafting the second phase of the EIA takes at least a year. It is a phase in which little is visible, but in which the foundation is laid for everything that follows. In the northern Netherlands, this phase is nearing completion. The draft project decisions for Hydrogen Network Groningen, Hydrogen Network Drenthe and Overijssel and Hydrogen Network North Sea Canal Area are expected to be published for consultation at roughly the same time, giving everyone the opportunity to respond. The ministers concerned will then take a final decision on each project. If everything goes according to plan, construction on these projects will begin in 2027.
‘This is the phase in which we really want to make sure we haven’t missed anything’, says Kelvin. ‘We look again, more sharply and in more detail. That takes time, but it is precisely that care that will make the difference later.’
‘Once the pipeline is in the ground, you can’t see it anymore’, says Heleen. ‘But that is exactly what shows that all the work beforehand has been worthwhile: getting hydrogen safely from A to B, without the surrounding area suffering any ill effects. And that is why we do it!’
News & knowledge
