The first major pipeline section of the Dutch hydrogen network in Rotterdam has been filled with hydrogen, marking a significant milestone in the development of the infrastructure that will soon make up the backbone of the hydrogen market in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and ultimately the whole of Europe. A total of 32 tonnes of green hydrogen was supplied to fill the 20-mile (32-km) pipeline.
The pipeline in Rotterdam establishes a crucial link between the city’s port and industrial customers in the surrounding region and will be connected to the Dutch hydrogen network. The Delta Rhine Corridor will connect Rotterdam to industry further afield in the Netherlands, but also to Germany and broader hydrogen infrastructure across north-western Europe, laying the foundation for widespread industrial decarbonization and greater European energy security.
“This first fill in the Rotterdam cluster is a major step towards the future and further roll out of the hydrogen network and the wider European market,” said Sietse Wijnstra, project director at Hynetwork. “It demonstrates that the network has moved from concept to realization, instilling market confidence that it will be delivered and a reliable and secure transport solution becomes available.”
The filling operations were performed in partnership with Plug Power Inc (Plug). The hydrogen is being delivered using Plug’s fleet of 40-ft. (12-m) Multiple Element Gas Container (MEGC) trailers, each capable of transporting more than 1000 kg of compressed hydrogen, deployed in coordination with established logistics partners.
“It was quite a challenging process,” said Niels van Pagee, manager of the Dutch hydrogen network. “Within a short time span and under a tight deadline, dozens of trailers carrying containers full of green hydrogen had to make their way from northern Germany to the Maasvlakte industrial area near Rotterdam, where we had set up a temporary filling site.”
Hynetwork, a subsidiary of Gasunie, is creating a national hydrogen network in the Netherlands. Five industrial clusters will be connected to each other, to other countries, and to hydrogen storage and import locations. Industrial clusters are places where many industries are located near each other.
The national hydrogen network will give all industrial regions access to hydrogen infrastructure and make the Netherlands the hydrogen port of Europe. The network is being built in phases.
