Noord-Holland awarded European Hydrogen Valley of the year 2023
This week in Brussels, the Hydrogen Hub Noord-Holland was awarded European Hydrogen Valley of the year 2023. On behalf of the province, Programme Director Energy Transition North Sea Canal Area Ingrid Post accepted the award. Last year, the award went to Hydrogen Valley Noord-Nederland. New Energy Coalition is involved in both hubs as (lead) partner.
Hydrogen Hub Noord-Holland in awards
This week in Brussels, the Hydrogen Hub Noord-Holland was awarded European Hydrogen Valley of the year 2023. On behalf of the province, Programme Director Energy Transition North Sea Canal Area Ingrid Post accepted the award. Last year, the award went to Hydrogen Valley Noord-Nederland. New Energy Coalition is involved in both hubs as (lead) partner.
The Hydrogen Valley status is a European award for regions with a distinctive commitment to developing an energy system based on sustainable hydrogen. Worldwide, there are 84 regions with Hydrogen Valley status and in Europe, 60 regions have Hydrogen Valley status. Now in its sixth year, the European Hydrogen Valley of the Year award provides an additional incentive for project beneficiaries to bring research and innovation to market. Hydrogen Hub Noord-Holland is a collaboration between a large number of partners including the province of Noord-Holland, Noordzeekanaalgebied, Ontwikkelingsbedrijf Noord-Holland and various municipalities, grid operators and private parties.
International prize
“This recognition underscores the efforts of both public and private partners to make Hydrogen Hub North Holland a success story and thus occupy a leading position in the hydrogen transition within North-West Europe” said Ingrid Post.
Hydrogen Valley Noord-Holland Noord
Earlier this year in May, the Hydrogen hub Noord-Holland was already awarded European ‘Hydrogen Valley’ status. It is the European award for regions that make distinctive efforts to develop an energy system based on sustainable hydrogen. On the aspects of ‘public-private partnership’ and ‘financing’, the region is even named as a ‘best practice’. New Energy Coalition is one of the architects of the status application. North Holland North has been an important working area for New Energy Coalition for many years.
Hydrogen ambitions of Noord-Holland
North Holland is strongly committed to developing hydrogen as a promising alternative to coal, natural gas and diesel. This commitment to hydrogen is a crucial step towards achieving climate neutrality and reducing CO2 emissions. The benefits extend beyond cleaner air; hydrogen also reduces particulate matter and nitrogen emissions, contributing to a healthier living environment. Moreover, this deployment stimulates the economy and creates new jobs in the province.
North Holland’s port areas act as essential hydrogen hubs for import, storage, transit and export of sustainable hydrogen. Amsterdam, as the fourth largest port in Europe, is shifting its focus from currently fossil fuels to green hydrogen and synthetic paraffin for aviation and shipping. The port of Den Helder, due to its strategic location, can also play a key role in the large-scale import of green hydrogen from the North Sea or neighbouring countries. The strategic location of the ports in the North Sea Canal area and Den Helder thus make these regions crucial in the hydrogen transition for North-Holland, the Netherlands and North-West Europe.
