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Feasibility study on hydrogen network Brainport region
Group of companies will work together in a study to investigate the possibilities of a pipeline network for the supply of hydrogen in the region.
In the coming months, a group of 12 companies led by Brainport Development and the Municipality of Eindhoven will carry out a feasibility study into the possibility of constructing a hydrogen network in the Brainport region. The province of Noord-Brabant and Enexis are closely involved in the research. Green hydrogen is seen by the companies as a possible, important sustainable energy source in addition to wind and solar energy. Especially as a replacement for natural gas in industry and as a fuel for heavy mobility. The results are expected in September.
Grid congestion as a flywheel
In the Netherlands, a lot of work is being done on the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable alternatives, such as generating electricity by means of solar and wind. Many companies in the Netherlands are taking steps towards sustainability by electrifying their transportation and production processes. However, the generation of solar and wind energy depends on the weather. Sometimes there is a lot of wind or solar energy, sometimes little. Together, this puts extra strain on the electricity grid.
Due to the pressure on the electricity grid, companies have to wait longer for a larger or new connection. Instead of electrifying production and transport, the switch to green hydrogen can be a solution. This is especially interesting for energy-intensive industries where electrification is not always easy.
Local hydrogen networks
A local hydrogen network is therefore being developed at various business parks in the Netherlands. "In the Eindhoven region, we now also want to look at the possibilities of such a local hydrogen infrastructure," explains Annemiek Bles, Program Manager Energy at Brainport Development. In the past year, the municipality of Eindhoven has been in contact with various companies and a frontrunner group has emerged. "We brought this group together to talk about opportunities and challenges. From this group, 12 companies have now indicated that they want to participate in a feasibility study into a local hydrogen network."
The feasibility study will determine whether the demand for hydrogen is high enough to realize a local network profitably. The larger the volume of hydrogen required, and the more efficient the infrastructure, the better the return. The companies that join the study are DAF Trucks, VDL Groep, Eindhoven Airport, Rendac Son, HTL-DHT Eindhoven, Verzinkerij Meerveldhoven, Prysmian Group, Weber Beamix, High Tech Campus Eindhoven, KWS Asfaltcentrale Eindhoven, Dutch Bakery and TNO Powertrains Test Centre in Helmond. The feasibility study will be carried out by WaterstofNet.
Energy manager Ronald Stegers of DAF Trucks says:
"These kinds of large-scale projects can only be tackled together. We are pleased that the municipality of Eindhoven and Brainport Development are taking a leading role in this. This is in the interest of a large number of companies in the region, who want to use hydrogen in the future."
Connection to the national network
At the national level, work is underway on a national hydrogen network to give industrial regions access to a hydrogen infrastructure. In the future, the regional hydrogen distribution networks will be connected to Hynetwork's national hydrogen network.
The feasibility study in Brainport Eindhoven also investigates the possibility of a link to the national hydrogen network, e.g. to the Delta Rhine Corridor that is yet to be built. The Delta Rhine Corridor is a strategic pipeline project, which can also have a clear added value for Brabant in terms of safety, broad prosperity and sustainability of companies and the climate goals to be achieved with it. The Province of Noord-Brabant is joining the study as a stakeholder for the connection opportunities with the national hydrogen network.
Joint approach to meet challenges
The construction and maintenance of a hydrogen network involves high investments. That is why Enexis is also involved in the research. Bram Gerrist, Director of Innovation and Development at Enexis:
"As a grid operator, Enexis may play a possible role in managing the network in the future. We already have a lot of experience with and knowledge about the distribution of gases. We are happy to bring this expertise to the table."