Energy infrastructure company Gasunie has taken the investment decision for the first part of its national hydrogen network. Gasunie board member Hans Coenen announced this today during the Hydrogen Europe Summer Market in Brussels. The investment of this first section exceeds €100 million and is being developed by Gasunie’s subsidiary Hynetwork Services. Work will start after the summer in Rotterdam. This nationwide hydrogen network, which will cost around €1.5 billion, will connect major industrial regions in the Netherlands and surrounding countries, such as Germany and Belgium, from 2030 onwards. In addition, the network will have connections to import terminals at seaports, domestic hydrogen production and large-scale hydrogen storage facilities. Last year, Hynetwork Services was commissioned by the government to develop the hydrogen network.

The national network will eventually be 1,200 kilometres long and largely consist of existing natural gas pipelines. Rotterdam, as one of the seaports, will act as a major gateway for hydrogen to northwest Europe, with hydrogen able to be transported through the network to industrial customers in the Netherlands and surrounding countries, such as Germany and Belgium. The first section of the hydrogen network will run in Rotterdam from the Tweede Maasvlakte to Pernis, a stretch of more than 30 kilometres. Construction will start after the summer and is expected to be operational by 2025.