The Netherlands as a Future Hydrogen Hub for Northwest Europe: Analysing Domestic Developments and International Engagement

The Dutch government believes hydrogen will play an important role in decarbonizing the energy system. Industry, NGOs and the government work together in the Netherlands to setup low-carbon hydrogen supply chains. The Netherlands is in a good position to make a significant contribution to Europe's low-carbon hydrogen market, thanks to its current role as a European energy hub, large chemical industry, geographic location at the North Sea, offshore wind potential and existing gas and oil infrastructure. The Dutch national hydrogen strategy predominantly focuses on hydrogen produced via electrolysis from renewable electricity. However, there is also room for hydrogen produced from natural gas or waste gases with CCS, given that this effectively contributes to the development of the broader Dutch hydrogen system, without hampering the growth of hydrogen produced via electrolysis from renewable electricity. In the initial market phase, the Dutch government will prioritize hydrogen supply for the hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy industry and heavy-duty transportation. In later market phases more sectors could be using hydrogen as an energy carrier. The Dutch government has chosen for a combination of obligations and a variety of subsidies schemes, to increase investment security and scale up the low-carbon hydrogen market by 2030. Internationally the Netherlands aims to position itself as the low-carbon hydrogen hub of Northwest Europe, connecting international exporters and Dutch domestic production at the North Sea with industrial demand centres in Northwest Europe. Acknowledging the scale of the task at hand, the Dutch government is open for partnerships along the whole value chain to work towards an international low-carbon hydrogen market.