Tens of millions for green hydrogen production in Groningen and Drenthe

The largest amount (125 million euros) goes to RWE for the construction of an electrolyser (hydrogen factory) on the site of the energy company’s coal/biomass power plant in Eemshaven. It will have a capacity of 50 megawatts and will produce hydrogen with electricity from the Westereems wind farm five kilometers away. That is also from RWE.

‘Excellent news’

The city of Groningen RWE director Marinus Tabak speaks of ‘excellent news’. According to him, the subsidy is crucial to make the project economically possible.

RWE hopes to make the final investment decision by the end of 2024. Whether this will succeed partly depends on whether the hydrogen plant can be connected in time to the hydrogen network that Gasunie is constructing. The energy group says it has already obtained the building and environmental permit and is in contact with potential customers. RWE hopes that the electrolyser can be put into use in 2027.

Important step

The Eemshydrogen project, as the hydrogen project is called, is an important step in building the hydrogen economy in Groningen, with the Eems Delta as the center. It is one of four concrete plans for electrolysers in the region. This also includes the project of the Zeeland company VoltH2. It also wants to build a 50 megawatt electrolyser in Delfzijl. There will also be a subsidy for this, but that amount could not be determined on Monday evening. The company could not be reached for explanation.

There will also be money for two small electrolysers. The Hoogezandster company Holthausen wants to make hydrogen itself at its hydrogen filling station on Bornholmstraat in Groningen. To this end, it wants to build a 2.5 megawatt electrolyser.

Nieuw-Buinen

The H2Hollandia project in Nieuw-Buinen also receives money from the cabinet. The contracting company Avitec and the Groningen Novar (sustainable energy systems) want to produce hydrogen there with a 5 megawatt electrolyser for Avitec’s fleet, among others. For this they use electricity from the solar park that both companies operate in the Drenthe village.

The government has allocated a total of 246 million euros to seven projects for the production of green hydrogen with installations with a capacity of up to 50 megawatts. The combined capacity of the subsidized electrolysers is 101 megawatts. Of this, 96 megawatts will be in Groningen and Drenthe.