(Groningen / Netherlands) – The Netherlands wants to build a national transport network for hydrogen. The task will be assigned to the gas network operator NV Nederlandse Gasunie, which will also “play an important role in the storage and import of hydrogen,” according to a statement.
The Dutch Minister for Climate and Energy Rob Jetten had presented corresponding plans. According to the Reuters news agency, the Dutch government wants to invest around 2031 million euros in the development of the hydrogen transport network by 750. Gasunie is expected to complete part of it by 2026. Due to the expected growth in offshore hydrogen production in the North Sea, Minister Jetten will investigate whether Gasunie could also take on the role of network operator at sea.
The Ruhr area and Hamburg are included
The hydrogen network is intended to connect the seaports with the large industrial clusters and with storage locations for hydrogen. Belgium and Germany – namely the Ruhr area and Hamburg – would also be included. According to Gasunie, the existing gas infrastructure can be used. “About 85 percent of the national network will consist of reused natural gas pipelines,” said Gasunie CEO Han Fennema. They are available because “less and less natural gas will be transported in the coming years”. The reuse of existing infrastructure is much cheaper and economically more efficient than any civil engineering work to lay new pipes.
According to Reuters, the Dutch government has been discussing the idea of a hydrogen transport network “for years”. The concrete steps to establish it accelerated after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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Gasunie is developing hydrogen transport network in the Netherlands. © NV Nederlandse Gasunie
