In the Erflanden district in Hoogeveen, 427 homes have to switch off natural gas and switch to hydrogen. At least that was the plan, but because of the high energy prices that no longer seems feasible. The municipality is now aiming for the conversion of about a hundred houses.
Hoogeveen announced this in a newsletter addressed to the residents of the neighbourhood. The municipality has received a subsidy of 4.4 million euros from the government for the project. This is mainly intended to replace central heating boilers, hobs and gas pipes.
The money will also be used to pay the additional costs of hydrogen compared to natural gas for the next fifteen years. Due to the rising energy prices, more money from the budget is now going there and therefore fewer houses in total can switch to hydrogen. Hydrogen is generated with (more expensive) electricity and is therefore also more expensive.
“The difference between the price you now pay for your energy/natural gas and the price of hydrogen has increased. Due to the larger price difference, more money is needed per home from the available budget,” the letter reads.
The municipality says, with a conservative estimate, that it will arrive at 100 homes. It is impossible to give an exact number, because of the fluctuating market. If energy prices fall, more may be possible in the future.
“We hope that the situation will get better and we have that in part in our own hands,” writes Hoogeveen. “For example, by working on our own production of hydrogen. This can ensure that we can eventually connect more homes.”
In addition to the Erflanden district, work is underway on Nijstad-Oost. A residential area with about a hundred new homes that will immediately be fitted with a hydrogen central heating boiler. In order to realize the hydrogen plans in Hoogeveen, a hydrogen receiving station is being built at the nearby NAM location Ten Arlo. The Erflanden district should also benefit from this.
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