Energy plans Northern Netherlands region supported by EU
The Dutch Northern region wants to further expand its role as a model in the field of energy. The region has ambitious plans in place to help shape the Dutch and European future of hydrogen, greening industry, and the associated labor market transition. 'Noord-Nederland' wants to use hundreds of millions from the European Just Transition Fund (JTF) for the energy plans and calls on the government to make this possible.
What are the energy plans for Noord-Nederland?
Noord-Nederland is the prime area for investments from the JTF to address the socio-economic consequences of the energy transition. This is necessary given the significant consequences of the rapid reduction of gas extraction in Groningen and the loss of some 20.000 jobs throughout the region. Both the European Commission and the Dutch House of Representatives have spoken out in favor of Groningen province and Noord-Nederland region as the main objective of the fund in the Netherlands.
Noord-Nederland has taken on the challenge and drawn up ambitious plans that can be implemented immediately. The plans focus on three objectives:
- realizing the energy transition
- an agile labor market
- creating a new economic perspective for the region.
Examples of related projects are: the Hydrogen Investment Agenda Noord-Nederland, Drenthe 4.0 (including GZI-Next in Emmen), the Scholingsalliantie Noord and Wetsus in Leeuwarden.
It is up to the government now
For the realization of the plans, the North is dependent on the cabinet, which still has to determine where and how the JTF funds will be deployed in the Netherlands. The provinces of Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe, and their main cities Groningen, Leeuwarden, Assen, and Emmen jointly call on the cabinet not to wait any longer and let Noord-Nederland get started.
The fair use of JTF resources in Noord-Nederland not only helps the region progress economically, but also makes a significant contribution to the innovation, climate, and energy goals of the Dutch government and the European Union. After decades of large-scale peat, oil, and gas extraction, the North now aims to become a large-scale hub for renewable and clean energy and future-oriented technology. Moreover, this offers ample opportunities for companies and knowledge partners outside the region to collaborate on the energy and labor market transition.
Noord-Nederland is leading the energy transition. This is where knowledge, infrastructure, and urgency converge. Government, education, and businesses work hand in hand on a new energy future. For the Netherlands and beyond, this is the perfect testing ground for innovations. It's no coincidence that Noord-Nederland was appointed Europe's first Hydrogen Valley. Within New Energy Coalition partners and focus are converging: the recognition and support from the Dutch government and the EU motivate us even more. We are convinced that this can only be achieved through collaboration. We work hard on this every day with our coalition partners!
- Marieke Abbink-Pellenbarg, CEO New Energy Coalition
Support for JTF deployment in Noord-Nederland region
As a result of the climate and energy transition, within the region some 20.000 jobs are at stake, as recently calculated by the European Commission's scientific office, the Joint Research Centre. This means the region faces an enormous challenge in the coming years, one that, due to its more tenuous economic context, is of a completely different magnitude than in other regions in the Netherlands. Therefore, earlier this year, the European Commission designated Groningen as a focus region for the JTF fund.
Before the summer recess, the House of Representatives also endorsed the Dutch Northern region as a suitable recipient of the JTF funding in a widely adopted motion by the CDA and Christian Union political parties. The motion's authors, Agnes Mulder (CDA) and Carla Dik-Faber (Christian Union), pointed to the ambitions and potential of the North. Noord-Nederland in the field of green hydrogen, for example."The goal is to elevate hydrogen production, transport, and use. This is economically important for the North. Stopping gas extraction will result in the loss of 20.000 jobs here. I know there are other regions with ambitions, but the bulk of the work must go to the North. Noord-Nederland'', said Agnes Mulder about this.
Fund for a Just Energy Transition
The JTF is part of the European Commission's Green Deal. The fund is intended for regions economically dependent on income and jobs from the fossil fuel industry and that will be hit hard by the energy and climate transition in the coming years. The agreement reached by the European Council on July 21st allocates €10 billion from the Recovery Fund (until 2024) and an additional €7,5 billion from the European multiannual budget (until 2027) for this purpose.
The exact amount the Netherlands will receive from the Fund is still unclear, as the European Parliament has not yet approved the proposed agreement from the heads of government. It is clear, however, that the European Parliament is seeking a further increase in the Just Transition Fund. For the Netherlands and Noord-Nederland This involves hundreds of millions of euros. The JTF plan is scheduled to begin implementation in the Member States in 2021.
