The study will look at the practical aspects of how a hydrogen exchange could be set up in the Netherlands. A hydrogen exchange could be set up in stages and grow incrementally along with the formation of a market for climate-neutral hydrogen, believe the organisations. In addition to Gasunie, the port authorities of Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Groningen, and North Sea Port (Vlissingen, Terneuzen and Ghent) are involved in the project.
Speaking on behalf of the ports, Allard Castelein, CEO of Port of Rotterdam Authority, said: “It is important that we all pull together on this. Not only do we want to speed up the development of hydrogen in the Netherlands, we also want to make sure our country plays a pivotal role in the renewal of Northwestern Europe’s energy system.”
Market catalyst
The plans for a definition study follow the exploratory study, ‘A Hydrogen Exchange for the Climate’. This study found a hydrogen exchange, along the lines of electricity and gas exchanges, could act as a catalyst for a market for climate-neutral hydrogen. It could also help the economic growth of a hydrogen market. The study was presented to the Netherlands government’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.
The follow-up study that is currently being launched will be headed by Bert den Ouden, former CEO of the Dutch Energy Exchange, and will run for a maximum of one year.