The H2 Hollandia hydrogen project at the solar park in Nieuw-Buinen continues. From 2026, 300,000 kilos of green hydrogen will be produced annually. This hydrogen is mainly used in the transport and construction sectors.
The project is led by contractors Avitec and Novar. H2 Hollandia uses a device, an electrolyser, that produces hydrogen by using electricity from the nearby Hollandia solar park. This solar park, one of the largest in the Netherlands, has 288,278 solar panels. Together they supply an enormous amount of energy, enough to supply 35,000 households with green energy at the same time.
Hydrogen production only uses the surplus of solar energy. This means no additional pressure is placed on the electricity grid. The hydrogen is stored on site in special cylinders, which are then transported by truck to filling stations and other users.
The project is being realized thanks to subsidies from the government and the province of Drenthe. The total project will cost approximately 17.5 million euros, of which 6 million will be financed through subsidies.
According to Ben Timmermans of Avitec, the project is an important step for the Dutch hydrogen economy. “I am very proud. This is the largest hydrogen project that is now being realized in the Netherlands, and it is here in Buunermond. Here in Drenthe we simply dare to stick our heads above the parapet. It is all new and exciting, but also very cool that we do this here.”
He emphasizes that the project is unique because hydrogen production runs entirely on solar power. “Normally it is ideal if you can run hydrogen production 24/7, even at night and in winter. But here we purely use the surplus from the solar park. That makes it really special.”
Timmermans looks back with pride on the road to this moment. “When the solar park was opened by King Willem-Alexander in 2021, we released the first test balloon. That was three years ago. If you now see how quickly we achieved this, with good contact in the area and an honest story, then you get support. This project shows that it is possible.”
The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2026. “We hope that Queen Máxima will then come and cut the ribbon,” says Timmermans with a smile.