Hydrogen networks are mainly laid out for industry. This is because it emits a large part of the greenhouse gases in the Netherlands, says the government. Hydrogen does not emit those gases and is seen as a good alternative to a sustainable future.
Companies in Emmen say they would like to use the energy carrier. In Northern Groningen, the extreme point of the rural hydrogen network, water-solid factories at Delfzijl and Eemshaven will rise over a number of years. The Emmen industry, including the industrial cluster Getec Park, wants to make use of it.
There are also ideas for producing hydrogen yourself, for example on the GZI Next site in Emmen. But that does not seem to be there for the time being Shell. Initially, the Province of Drenthe put 1.6 million euros on the table for the realization of a water dust factory. That subsidy was withdrawn because it all didn’t really get rid of it.
In the meantime, Shell has converted the plan into a test center. The oil giant is looking for partners for this who also want to pull the wallet. The idea is to do research into new technology that helps with the future hydrogen production. Because for now it is simply too expensive.
Green hydrogen is still in its infancy and in the Netherlands and Europe the production is lagging behind the ambitions. “The costs for producing hydrogen are high and there is still insufficient demand,” said Shell spokesperson Wendel Broere. Because of that uncertainty, potential customers from the industry hesitate to switch.
The location is further made available for customers who want to test their own so -called electrolysers, says Broere. These are systems that split water into oxygen and hydrogen with electricity.
“At the moment there is talk with potential users.” On the basis of experimenting, the key must be found to produce hydrogen on a large scale and at a reasonable price.
TNO and GroenvantNL have now joined as partners, because Shell says it cannot do the job alone. In addition to the two, other parties will be sought in the coming months.
In the coming period, Shell will work out the project together with other parties. “A definitive investment decision is not expected before the summer,” said Broere. “The final costs for this project are not yet known.” It is therefore not yet possible to say when construction starts.