EU support for Noord-Nederland as a hydrogen region
Noord-Nederland-region is taking a major step towards a sustainable hydrogen economy. The European Commission has approved the grant application for the HEAVENN project, resulting in €20 million in EU funding and €70 million in co-financing. This brings the total project size to approximately €90 million. HEAVENN – led by New Energy Coalition – brings together 31 partners from six countries to Noord-Nederland to be realized as a hydrogen region. The official start of the six-year project is expected in early 2020.
Noord-Nederland as a hydrogen region
Noord-Nederland is well on track to become one of the European hydrogen regions. The grant application for a Hydrogen Valleyhas been selected by the European Commission's Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) to prepare the €20 million grant agreement with €70 million in public-private co-financing. The total project size is approximately €90 million. This grant is intended for the development of a fully functional green hydrogen chain in Noord-Nederland. The consortium is expected to sign the agreement by January 2020 at the latest, kicking off the six-year project.
Dutch Minister Wiebes of Economic Affairs and Climatefully supports the initiative. According to him, Noord-Nederland has everything in place for a large, successful, and sustainable hydrogen economy. According to Wiebes, the impressive list of projects shows that new prospects are emerging for the local economy and that Noord-Nederland will continue to play a major role in the Dutch energy transition.
The grant application was made in April this year by the HEAVENN consortium, led by New Energy Coalition. HEAVENN. stands for H2 Energy Applications (in) Valley Environments (for) Northern Netherlands and consists of 31 public and private parties from 6 European countries. New Energy Coalition and the Partnership Noord-Nederland were the driving forces behind the application, which was supported by more than 65 national and international parties from California to Japan and New Zealand. The HEAVENN project is unique because it encompasses and connects the entire hydrogen supply chain within a single geographic region.
HEAVENN Program
The grant application was made in April this year by the HEAVENN consortium, led by New Energy Coalition. HEAVENN. stands for H2 Energy Applications (in) Valley Environments (for) Northern Netherlands and consists of 31 public and private parties from 6 European countries. New Energy Coalition and the Partnership Noord-Nederland were the driving forces behind the application, which was supported by more than 65 national and international parties from California to Japan and New Zealand. The HEAVENN project is unique because it encompasses and connects the entire hydrogen supply chain within a single geographic region.
Integrated green hydrogen chain: from production to filling stations
The supported projects focus on sectoral integration: the large-scale production of green hydrogen as a feedstock for industry, the storage, transport, and distribution of hydrogen, and its application in energy supply for both industry and the built environment, as well as in mobility. Existing natural gas pipelines will be adapted for hydrogen transport, and new hydrogen pipelines will be constructed at Chemie Park Delfzijl and between the GZI-Next site and the Emmtec Industry & Business Park in Emmen. Underground hydrogen storage is planned at HyStock in Veendam. Hydrogen for domestic heating will be implemented in Hoogeveen and Groningen, and for industry in Delfzijl and Emmen. In mobility, hydrogen will be used for buses, light and heavy-duty trucks, and passenger cars, among other things. Hydrogen refueling stations will be built in Groningen and Emmen, in addition to those already planned in Pesse, Groningen, and the currently operational refueling station in Delfzijl. A hydrogen (H2)-powered inland vessel will also be built, and green H2 will be used in the production of e-kerosene for aircraft. Heavier vehicles in particular are very suitable for the use of hydrogen, and this is also where the greatest CO2 reduction and environmental benefits can be achieved.
Noord-Nederland has achieved a unique feat with the HEAVENN project. The region demonstrates that hydrogen can make a significant contribution to the Paris Climate Goals, and it's positive that the European Commission is supporting this development. It's now time for industry and Europe to invest further in this area to create hydrogen regions across Europe, similar to the one in the north.
- Member of the European Parliament Esther de Lange (CDA/EPP)
Leadership in Europe
This is one of the largest grants the FCH JU public-private partnership, part of the HORIZON 2020 framework program, has made available for a project. This grant and the associated co-financing will enable the winning region to go beyond simply developing individual projects and achieve sectoral integration in the field of green hydrogen and take a leading position in Europe.
The news has been received enthusiastically by the northern administrators involved:
Deputy Tjisse Stelpstra (Province of Drenthe)"The North is positioning itself internationally as the hydrogen region of Europe thanks to the good cooperation between companies, knowledge institutions and governments. Noord-Nederland has many developments in the pipeline, which will receive an additional financial boost from the European subsidy to implement valuable projects. These innovations put us in the international spotlight. This not only contributes to the energy transition but also strengthens the regional economy.
Mayor Peter den Oudsten (municipality of Groningen): "Noord-Nederland has the motivation and the courage to do it. This is European recognition for this attitude and an encouragement to develop the integrated hydrogen economy that Noord-Nederland continues to shape its position as the energy hub of North-Western Europe.”
Provincial Executive Member Patrick Brouns (Province of Groningen): "We're thrilled to have emerged as the winner, because such a substantial European subsidy accelerates the path to the top we were already on in the north. It boosts the greening of industry and also creates jobs throughout the region."
Councillor Guido Rink (municipality of Emmen): “Gas is of crucial importance for the industrial core within the municipality of Emmen. Now that natural gas production is drastically declining, we must find a viable alternative. Green hydrogen is one of those promising alternatives. This fantastic project helps us achieve our climate goals and stimulates innovative and sustainable economic development in the region. Moreover, this project promotes broad northern cooperation, a key prerequisite for the success of the hydrogen economy.
Provincial Executive Member Nienke Homan (Province of Groningen): "No energy transition without hydrogen! With this large-scale project, the North is making a concrete contribution to an international climate-neutral future."
