In a significant step towards the development of a national hydrogen network, Gasunie subsidiary Hynetwork has connected Shell’s flagship 200MW Holland Hydrogen 1 electrolysis plant at the Rotterdam Maasvlakte (Netherlands) to the first segment of the Dutch hydrogen pipeline network.

Described by Gasunie as 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 kilometres of hydrogen pipeline earlier this year.

The 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 CO₂ pipeline used for the Porthos project. Over a stretch of 19 kilometres, the hydrogen pipeline and the CO₂ pipeline are only 40 centimetres apart.

Said Jan Willem Rongen, Project Manager Rotterdam Hydrogen Network (Hynetwork), “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 coordinate schedules, resolve problem areas and ensure safety together. This collaboration was essential to our success: it was a huge achievement from us all.”

Gasunie says the infrastructure will be further expanded over the coming years by adding new producers and consumers with a view to creating a national, and, ultimately, an international network connecting industrial clusters in north-western Europe.