Last week the Province gave out a 1.6 million euro subsidy for a ‘hydrogen factory’
The province of Drenthe wants to be an important part of the Dutch hydrogen economy, and has published an investment plan, together with the business community and the other Northern provinces. As reported by RTV Drenthe.
Last week, the province of Drenthe announced its intention to grant a 1.6 million euro subsidy for the construction of the hydrogen factory at GZI Next in Emmen.
“The gas purification plant that stood here has completely disappeared. But all the pipes are still there, so we can start right here. We are going to build a hydrogen filling point here for buses and further for anyone who wants to refuel hydrogen. In addition, a factory is being built here that will will also produce hydrogen “, says Harry Eshuis of NAM, the Northern-Dutch partnership (owned by Exxon Mobil and Shell) that has been responsible for the over-extraction of natural resources since the 1950’s.
A large solar park has now been built on the GZI Next site: “the energy from those solar panels will also go to the hydrogen factory, but that is not nearly enough. We will also need a connection to the grid to get green electricity to the factory”, says Eshuis. “With the power of solar or wind energy, green hydrogen is made by splitting water. The gas that is released can be used to replace natural gas or diesel, for example.”
“Hydrogen is still in its infancy. We are now in the process of developing the first factory. If it becomes larger-scale, the price will also fall. The gas price is very low due to the corona crisis. As a result, subsidies are also needed to entice the industry. Switching to green hydrogen. In the short term it is not possible without a subsidy because the industry must be able to compete worldwide. ”
Image: a hydrogen filling station in Germany. Image via WIkimedia user Dr. Arthur Braun. License here.
