The Netherlands could become green hydrogen powerhouse

The Netherlands – Researchers from Roland Berger and Royal HaskoningDHV claim that the Netherlands possesses all the elements necessary to develop into the largest green hydrogen powerhouse in Europe in a joint research paper.

Over the coming decades, there will be a tremendous increase in demand for green hydrogen. The Roland Berger and Royal HaskoningDHV investigation found that they can only be produced, imported, stored, and delivered in a few locations in Europe.

The Netherlands is one of them, and the two agencies have even given it a special top spot in the competition for dominance of the European market.

Due to its lengthy history as a significant natural gas exporter and its role as a transit country for Europe, the Netherlands provides a solid starting point. These combine to provide a plethora of information, skill, and top-notch infrastructure.

The Netherlands also has a substantial interconnector network to Belgium, the UK, Germany, and Denmark in addition to a sizable offshore natural gas network for bringing hydrogen produced at sea ashore. A significant amount of hydrogen can also be delivered from the Netherlands to the Ruhr region thanks to the completion of the Delta Corridor.

Future growth

According to Roland Berger and Royal HaskoningDHV, the Netherlands successfully manufactures and sells green hydrogen. Future years will see a rapid rise in manufacturing. Before 2030, a number of large-scale initiatives, frequently connected to the production of wind energy, will enter production.

Overall, it appears that the Netherlands was on the verge of succeeding in gaining control of the European market. There is, however, still a substantial challenge to be resolved. The analysis also demonstrates that the market for green hydrogen will continue to be unprofitable.

It is unlikely that market participants will accept the challenge given how unpredictable and loss-making it is. The two agencies claim that this calls for “decisive action” on three separate levels. First, the government needs to make sure that massive infrastructure—both new and recycled—is quickly accessible. Second, imports from abroad should be welcomed while local production and consumption should be encouraged. The last step is to set up a digital trading platform.