The construction of a national hydrogen network in the Netherlands has commenced, initiated by an official ceremony performed by King Willem-Alexander. The event, which occurred on Friday, October 27, 2023, took place at the Gasunie subsidiary Hynetwork Services in the port of Rotterdam, where the first section of the network will be built by contractor Visser & Smit Hanab.

During the ceremony, Gasunie provided King Willem-Alexander with a comprehensive tour of the construction site. The King engaged with various stakeholders, discussing topics such as the transition of businesses toward sustainability, the role of hydrogen in the energy system, hydrogen transport, and the options for hydrogen import.

Estimated to cost approximately €1.5 billion, the national hydrogen network is anticipated to link the major industrial regions of the Netherlands to each other, as well as to Germany and Belgium, starting from 2030. The Dutch Government commissioned Gasunie in 2022 to spearhead the development of this significant network.

Gasunie emphasized the use of sustainable, zero-emission equipment during the construction process. Notably, the company intends to utilize innovative solutions, including HyTap technology, to safely connect end-users to the hydrogen pipelines.

The initial phase of the hydrogen network will span over 30 kilometers, connecting the Tweede Maasvlakte industrial park to Pernis in Rotterdam. Scheduled for completion by 2025, this segment represents an integral step toward the larger vision of a 1,200-kilometer national network primarily repurposed from existing natural gas pipelines. This extensive network will be integrated with large-scale hydrogen production facilities, import terminals at seaports, and various companies both in the Netherlands and abroad planning to transition to hydrogen-based operations.

Gasunie's CEO, Han Fennema, expressed enthusiasm about the construction of the Dutch hydrogen network, highlighting its significance in advancing the transition to a more sustainable energy supply in the Netherlands and North-Western Europe.

Minister for Climate and Energy Policy, Rob Jetten, underscored the importance of this milestone, emphasizing the significant role that hydrogen can play in enhancing the sustainability of Dutch industries and fostering economic opportunities for the country as a central hub in North-Western Europe.

In June 2023, energy infrastructure company Gasunie had already made the investment decision for the initial phase of the Dutch national hydrogen network.