Chain cooperation in the Noord-Holland Noord region

In recent years, the Noord-Holland Noord region has stepped up its ambitions to become climate neutral. Hydrogen will make an important contribution to the transition to sustainable energy and raw materials. Several hydrogen projects are already underway in the Noord-Holland Noord region along the entire value chain (from production and storage to transport and application).  New Energy Coalition and Ontwikkelingsbedrijf Noord-Holland Noord (NHN) are working closely with a large number of entrepreneurs in the region to create a local hydrogen ecosystem.

To remain at the global forefront of the hydrogen sector, NHN, New Energy Coalition and the North Sea Canal Region have jointly applied for a Hydrogen Valley status. A Hydrogen Valley is a region or area dedicated to developing and implementing a hydrogen economy. It includes a network of hydrogen production, storage, distribution and application facilities, as well as an ecosystem of companies and research institutions focused on developing hydrogen technologies and applications. The region is expected to be awarded the Hydrogen Valley status and play an important role in the supply of hydrogen from the North Sea towards the North Sea Canal area and beyond from 2030.

A green hydrogen chain in the port of Den Helder

We are currently seeing the first integrated hydrogen value chains being established. A great example is the ZepHYros project, which is working to develop an all-green hydrogen chain in the port of Den Helder. This chain consists of a solar park with electrolyser for generating green hydrogen, infrastructure for transporting hydrogen and the realisation of a bunkering port (shipping) and filling station (freight). In addition, a hydrogen testing ground has been set up in which potential users and other stakeholders from the chain can get acquainted with hydrogen-powered shipping. In this way, they can make an informed decision to make hydrogen part of their future operations based on their own experiences and trials.

Hydrogen-powered mobility in the Wieringermeer area

Apart from the shipping industry, we are also seeing a rise in hydrogen-powered mobility on Dutch roads. Within the DUWAAL project in the Wieringermeer area, HYGRO has started realising the “Wind to Wheel” chain to get the transition to green mobility underway. For a smooth transition to a hydrogen economy, HYGRO foresees that supply and demand should be realised simultaneously, or DUWAAL. By aligning the entire value chain, efficiency gains can be made, which will accelerate the realisation of the chain. The first steps are currently being made. It will not be long before local supply of hydrogen for both business and private use will be a reality in the region.

Circular fuel in the city of Alkmaar

Just down the road, on the Boekelermeer industrial estate in the city of Alkmaar, HyDevCo is about to take the stage on the newly constructed InVesta site. In cooperation with Haffner Energy, this company aims to convert organic residual streams into hydrogen via a thermolysis-based process called HyNoCa (HYdrogen NO CArbon). The special feature of this process is that it produces biochar in addition to hydrogen. Biochar is a charcoal-like substance that can be used, for example, as a soil improver. It retains CO2 that was absorbed from the atmosphere and stores it in the soil. Additional revenues from biochar can minimise the cost of hydrogen.

Right next to the InVesta site, we find GP Groot‘s new NXT filling station. Besides building a hydrogen filling station, GP Groot also plans to make its own vehicle fleet more sustainable with the purchase of five hydrogen-electric company buses. The fact that HyDevCo and GP Groot operate side by side in Alkmaar is no coincidence. They want to act together to close their own value chain. GP Groot is the intended supplier of organic waste streams for HyDefCo. After it has processed the residual flows, the hydrogen will be sold to the market via the NXT filling station and used to fuel its own vehicles. Literally and figuratively circular fuel.

The Agri-Fieldlab Hydrogen NHN

Within the agrarian sector, there are also many off-take opportunities for hydrogen. The question that concerns many farmers in the Noord-Holland Noord region is how to make current energy demand more sustainable and how to make optimal use of this renewable energy in an area hit by grid congestion. Hydrogen could be the energy carrier that brings these two issues together. To test these questions in practice, the region is working on the H2 Agri-Fieldlab NHN.

Liquid hydrogen as an alternative

The applications of hydrogen we have talked about so far relate to gaseous hydrogen. However, besides its many advantages, it also has a drawback: its low volumetric energy density.  The energy content of hydrogen, per volume, is a lot lower than that of most other fuels and energy carriers. This means that to store or use hydrogen at atmospheric pressure and temperature requires a relatively large amount of space.

One solution is liquid hydrogen. By liquefying hydrogen, the low volumetric energy density can be raised. It almost triples compared to storage under 350bar. This makes storing, transporting and applying hydrogen much easier.

The first practical application for liquid hydrogen in the Noord-Holland Noord region is the collaboration between Van Dam and Tata Steel, who want to develop an emission-free ship that will be supplied with liquid hydrogen. This collaboration illustrates that the market is ready for the transition to liquid hydrogen. Hopefully, this will act as a driver for further acceleration towards sustainable shipping.

Collaboration in the value chain

The aforementioned projects and initiatives illustrate how collaboration in the value chain is essential to successfully deploy hydrogen. To realise an innovative, strong and ambitious collaboration climate, WaterstofNHN has been set up. WaterstofNHN is the platform for everyone involved with hydrogen in the Noord-Holland Noord region. The platform brings together companies, organisations, knowledge institutes and governments. By exchanging knowledge and making connections between the right parties, together we ensure a faster transition to a hydrogen economy.

Are you interested in the ongoing hydrogen projects in the Noord-Holland Noord region and the parties involved? Then come to the event “WaterstofNHN: working together towards a sustainable future” on Thursday 20 April at Theatre de Kampanje in the city of Den Helder. Register here.