Why this is important to Wisconsin businesses: Wisconsin companies involved in green hydrogen development and transportation could find open doors for their technologies.
The Netherlands is scaling up efforts to incorporate green hydrogen (along with other non-polluting power generation) into its energy system as it works toward the goal of a 100% climate-neutral energy supply and economy by 2050.
A site north of the Wadden Islands has been designated for a plant that is expected to be the world’s largest offshore hydrogen production project. The facility is planned to begin operating in 2031. A nearby wind farm already is in the works, and an existing natural gas pipeline can be transformed to carry green hydrogen to the mainland, according to OffshoreWIND.biz.
A smaller pilot project will be developed first to test the technology.
Meanwhile, research continues to find the most efficient ways to produce the fuel. Green hydrogen is creating by using electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar or wind to split water molecules apart through a device called an electrolyzer.
A new type of electrolyzer will be needed to handle large-scale green hydrogen production, according to TNO, the Dutch Organization for Applied Scientific Research. TNO, a consortium of technical universities and private-sector companies, will spend the next few years developing the design for the new electrolyzer. The organization says the next-generation electrolyzer will perform better, and it will not require the use of rare materials.
Wisconsin is involved in two clean hydrogen consortiums. The state is part of the Heartland Hydrogen Hub and the Midwest Hydrogen Hub, both of which aim to use low-carbon hydrogen for commercial purposes.
The research and expertise could help open doors for Wisconsin exporters looking to participate in the Netherlands’ green hydrogen focus.
