First major hydrogen plant connected to Dutch hydrogen pipeline

Gasunie subsidiary, Hynetwork, has connected the first hydrogen plant to the Dutch hydrogen network. The customer connection’s so-called ‘golden weld’ was made between the 200 MW Holland Hydrogen 1 plant at the Rotterdam Maasvlakte and the hydrogen pipeline. The connection work was performed by Hanab. This is the first time a green hydrogen producer has been connected directly to the national hydrogen infrastructure. It signifies another step in the development of the hydrogen network interconnecting Dutch industry and connecting it to industry abroad. This is a key condition for the decarbonisation of industry in the Netherlands and north-western Europe.

The connection follows the successful completion of the first 32 km of hydrogen pipeline earlier this year, after filling it with green hydrogen and bringing it to the correct pressure. The hydrogen pipeline was constructed by Hynetwork and largely runs parallel to the A15, inside an existing energy corridor where other key infrastructure is also clustered, including the carbon dioxide (CO₂) pipeline used for the Porthos project.

The development of this first hydrogen pipeline route took place in close collaboration with the Porthos project. Over a stretch of 19 km, the hydrogen pipeline and the CO₂ pipeline are only 40 cm apart.

Jan Willem Rongen, Project Manager Rotterdam Hydrogen Network (Hynetwork), said: “We set up the projects to ensure that we stayed out of each other’s way as much as possible. Intensive collaboration between Hynetwork, Porthos and its construction partners HANAB and Denys enabled us to co-ordinate schedules, resolve problem areas and ensure safety together. This collaboration was essential to our success: it was a huge achievement from us all.”

This first connection represents a significant step forwards in the development of a national hydrogen network. The infrastructure will be further expanded over the coming years by adding new producers and consumers. Gasunie’s aim is to build on this first connection in the Port of Rotterdam and create a national and, ultimately, an international network connecting industrial clusters in north-western Europe.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/19032026/first-major-hydrogen-plant-connected-to-dutch-hydrogen-pipeline/