North NL consortium for ERDF project WAviatER

About WAviatER

The project involves a consortium of Noord-Nederland and is developing green hydrogen technology. The consortium partners are Douna Machinery Leeuwarden, JB Besturingstechniek, REDStack, Demcon, Groningen Airport Eelde, New Energy Coalition and the University of Groningen, supported by TNO and VONK. The first concrete application is at Groningen Airport Eelde, the 'Hydrogen Valley Airport'. An electrolyser under development there will produce green hydrogen as an emission-free energy carrier for light aircraft, drones, and ground equipment. "In Noord-Nederland This is the first step towards an ecosystem of companies developing their own products for the green hydrogen economy.”

This development has not gone unnoticed in the world of sustainable mobility. TopDutch writes in an article about green mobility that Groningen Airport Eelde, with the support of a €3.5 million investment through the WAviatER project, wants to become most sustainable airport in Erope by producing green hydrogen on site for use in aviation and ground operations.

Noord-Nederland is recognised as a key center for the development of hydrogen technology by Europe, the region has been designated Hydrogen Valley. Within the region, Groningen Airport Eelde is pursuing various initiatives to make the airport and aviation more sustainable. In addition to the existing 22-MW solar park, Groningen Airport Eelde's Hydrogen Valley Airport project is also part of this. New Energy Coalition, University of Groningen, and other parties. The WAviatER project is now giving concrete form to Hydrogen Valley Airport.

Consortium

The WAviatER project, which started at the beginning of this year, has now also received the notification from the Partnership Noord-Nederland that it will receive funding from the Regional Development Fund (ERDF) – REACT-EU. The total budget is €3,5 million, of which the project partners themselves contribute more than half. Demcon leads the consortium, which also includes Groningen Airport Eelde, New Energy Coalition, University of Groningen and technological leaders Douna Machinery Leeuwarden, JB Besturingstechniek and REDstack.

Toon Hermans, managing director of Demcon energy systems, praises the efforts of the airport and other partners. “Green hydrogen is being studied everywhere, but here in Noord-Nederland they are looking for collaboration to develop concrete products. We've landed in a warm bath here, with New Energy Coalition as the architect of Hydrogen Valley and a driving force behind the energy transition, and with companies and knowledge institutions that are truly committed to hydrogen, the airport demonstrates its value to the surrounding area by acting as a catalyst for this development.

Jan Bos, director of JB Besturingstechniek, sees the project as a fantastic opportunity. "The participating companies can expand their knowledge of hydrogen production. For Groningen Airport Eelde, it's a great opportunity to focus on clean aviation."

Douna Machinery Leeuwarden wants to play a prominent role in the green energy transition, says General Manager Ale Procee. "Hydrogen production will make a significant contribution to this. The project not only contributes to sustainability but will also provide a significant economic boost to the manufacturing and service industries in the long term." Noord-Nederland. "

The project is an excellent opportunity for Noord-Nederland to become a pioneer in the production of green hydrogen on a medium scale, says Vasilis Kyriakou, assistant professor of Energy Conversion & Processes at the University of Groningen.

Electrolysers

The production of 'green' hydrogen takes place in a so-called electrolyser, which uses green electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This process is currently not yet competitive on a small scale with the large-scale, natural gas-based production of 'gray' hydrogen. For decentralized applications, there is a need for small to medium-sized electrolysers that produce green hydrogen at acceptable costs. Furthermore, it is important that the electrolysers themselves are sustainable and, for example, do not depend on the use of scarce and valuable metals used in certain types of electrolysers. The WAviatER consortium will therefore develop a scalable and sustainable electrolyser for the airport. This must be cheaper to purchase compared to current alternatives, have higher efficiency, do not require scarce and valuable metals, and also be capable of automated serial production.

Technology development

"Based on our extensive experience in systematic thinking and mechatronic product design, we develop solutions for efficient and sustainable energy systems," explains Toon Hermans of Demcon. "In this project, we're also focusing on the heart of the electrolyser, the stack, where the electrolysis reaction takes place. For this, we're collaborating with the University of Groningen, among others, which has advanced scientific expertise in energy conversion using electrolysis and control technology for complex (energy) systems. Our sister company, Demcon Industrial Systems Groningen, will develop the control system in collaboration with JB Besturingstechniek."

To remotely control electrolyzers, JB Besturingstechniek is contributing its expertise in flexible and intelligent automation and measurement systems. Douna and REDstack are members of the consortium for the production of stacks and complete electrolyzers. Douna has extensive experience in the manufacture and maintenance of valves for natural gas distribution, among other things, and is currently transitioning from fossil fuels to hydrogen. The production technology that REDstack is developing for its stacks is also suitable for the manufacture of electrolyzers for hydrogen production.

Noord-Nederlands ecosystem

The project runs until October 2023; by then, a fully operational installation should be in place at Groningen Airport Eelde. "Our ambition is to implement a complete system for the production, distribution, and use of hydrogen," says Jonas van Dorp, Head of Aviation Marketing & Development at Groningen Airport Eelde. "This will bring green hydrogen production closer to home, and we will increasingly develop the airport, including the expansion of the solar park, into an energy hub of regional significance. This aligns with our goal of becoming the most sustainable airport in the field of green hydrogen by 2030 as Hydrogen Valley Airport."

The green hydrogen produced in the WAviatER project is initially intended for on-site use. Toon Hermans of Demcon sees it as the start of a Dutch electrolyser industry. "In follow-up projects, we can post-process the hydrogen and, using high-pressure technology, make it suitable for transport and use elsewhere. In a broader perspective, this is Noord-Nederland just the first step towards an ecosystem of companies developing products for the hydrogen economy.”

About the partners

Demcon Demcon develops, produces, and supplies technology and innovative products that contribute to solving complex technological and social challenges. The Demcon Group has multiple locations in the Netherlands, including Groningen, as well as in Germany, Japan, and Singapore. 

Groningen Airport Eelde Groningen Airport Eelde aims to be the first airport of choice for holidaymakers and businesses in the North, through its high-quality facilities and market-focused approach. Under the name NXT Airport, Groningen Airport Eelde collaborates with partners on aviation innovation, sustainability, and education. 

New Energy Coalition is a continuously growing network of knowledge institutions, companies, governments and NGOs that Noord-Nederland working together to accelerate the energy transition for a sustainable future. New Energy Coalition is the architect of the project HEAVENN., by which Noord-Nederland has become Europe's first Hydrogen Valley.

University of Groningen is an internationally oriented university with strong regional roots. The university has the expertise and ambition to play a crucial role in the development of Noord-Nederland into a hub for green hydrogen production. 

Douna Machinery Leeuwarden (connecting green technologies) has been supporting customers in all aspects of the technical innovation process for 98 years. This includes the conception, design, manufacture, delivery, and service of mechanical installations. With this expertise, Douna Machinery has built up extensive knowledge and experience that it uses to accelerate the green energy transition. 

JB Control Technology JB Besturingstechniek, based in Oosterwolde, is an internationally oriented family business with an open culture and self-managing teams. With approximately forty employees, most of whom hold university or higher professional education degrees, the company specializes in industrial automation solutions that it deploys worldwide. JB Besturingstechniek values sustainable relationships with clients, employees, and suppliers. 

REDstackin Sneek specialises in sustainable energy generation using a membrane process. This involves the controlled mixing of salt and fresh water in so-called stacks to generate electricity. 

The consortium also has two external partners. TNO contributes fundamental knowledge in the field of energy transition and hydrogen strategy. Vonk, in Zwolle and Meppel, supplies power electronics knowledge and converter systems that are necessary for the energy supply of the electrolyser.

WAviatER is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This page reflects the author's views only. SNN, under the powers delegated by the European Commission, is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.