Customers visit site of preliminary work on the hydrogen network
On Wednesday 9 July, we welcomed future customers to our construction site in Vilsteren, near Ommen. Here, at the site where we are already working on converting the natural gas network for hydrogen transport, we gathered with stakeholders from across the value chain to showcase what we are doing in the region. Representatives from RWE, ENGIE, Equinor, VoltH2, Lhyfe, HyStock and GETEC were present.
Niek ten Bloemendal (ENGIE): ‘When you see what it takes to bring about such a conversion, it’s enormous. We don’t always appreciate that, so it’s good to be here and see it for ourselves.’
Tim Besseling (RWE): ‘It is encouraging to see Hynetwork’s commitment to the hydrogen value chain in this region. Effective collaboration is essential—after all, without production there is no demand, without storage there is no flexibility, and without transport there is no viable chain.’
Er gebeurt veel in Noord-Nederland
The hydrogen network is a crucial link in the value chain. The visitors expressed their appreciation for Hynetwork’s preliminary work in the northern Netherlands, which ensures we can maintain momentum in the network’s development. Numerous other initiatives are already underway across the region.
Niek ten Bloemendal, ENGIE: ‘Thanks to the emerging hydrogen transport possibilities, the first value chains are beginning to take shape—particularly here in the northern part of the Netherlands. For example, ENGIE’s Maxima power plant in Lelystad is being further adapted to produce electricity using hydrogen sourced from locations such as Eemshaven.’ In Delfzijl and Emmen (GETEC), preparations are also being made to become more sustainable using the hydrogen expected to be produced by RWE, ENGIE and Equinor in Eemshaven, and by VoltH2 and Lhyfe in Delfzijl.
Stimulating demand and long-term policy
René Hartman (GETEC): ‘We are making progress together, but we are not yet there. We are still at the beginning of developing a hydrogen value chain, and this entails certain risks. It is vital to stimulate demand for hydrogen and to have certainty about the government’s longer term policy. At GETEC, we see hydrogen as one of the key technologies for achieving long-term sustainability goals in the industrial sector and ensuring the success of the energy transition.’
Preliminary work on the hydrogen network
In early March, Hynetwork started preliminary work at the Gasunie facility in Vilsteren. The aim is to convert an existing natural gas pipeline stretching from Tjuchem (in the province of Groningen) to Ommen. In preparation for this, we are currently constructing a bypass for natural gas transport. This will enable the safe conversion of the existing pipeline for hydrogen transport as soon as we are ready to start building the hydrogen network in the region.
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