Hydrogen cooperative GldH2 signed agreements for the establishment of a green hydrogen plant in Zutphen, the Netherlands.
The hydrogen cooperative GldH2 has signed agreements with various regional companies in recent weeks for the establishment of a factory for green hydrogen in Zutphen. One of the most important partners is metal producer Aurubis.
The hydrogen plant will be located on the currently undeveloped site between the metal factory and the Twentekanaal and will soon be surrounded by solar panels that will supply electricity for the installation. Aurubis makes the land available free of charge for this purpose.
For GldH2 (Gelderland Hydrogen) it is a crucial moment. This week, a subsidy application was submitted to the European programme REACT, which is investing in sustainable new developments after the corona crisis.
On paper GldH2 has an excellent chance, in practice there is a strong competition with other sustainable projects. The total subsidy amount is expected to be well oversubscribed, initiatives will be killed.
Jan Fikken, Board member knows the challenges.
As GldH2, we are very innovative.
“In the Netherlands we are the first on this scale, but also in Europe we belong to the leading group. But leading the way also has disadvantages, we can only estimate the developments of the coming years. No one can tell us exactly how the hydrogen market will develop. The subsidy provider wants as much certainty as possible, so that taxpayers’ money is properly invested.”
Wiebe Boer from Warnsveld is also involved in the hydrogen project as a board member.
The past few months have been a series of conversations with various companies, the municipality, province, Cleantech Region, OostNL, OP Oost and then I hope that I have not forgotten anyone.
“Together with the business community and financiers, important steps have been taken and letters of intent have been signed. Everyone is enthusiastic. As soon as the subsidy is awarded, the agreements are final.”
GldH2 also holds talks with the residents of Eefde West on the other side of the Twentekanaal. They have read about the plans in the media and are now being informed further through personal conversations. “This consultation is also constructive,” says Boer.
“A hydrogen plant sounds grand, but it fits in two sea containers next to each other. We also need them for compressing. From the Eefde side, the containers cannot be seen due to the dikes along the Twentekanaal. The hydrogen storage can only be seen if the storage tanks are placed upright.”
“Placing horizontally is not technically a problem, but this costs space and is at the expense of solar panels. The municipality of Zutphen is going to plant the green strip along the Twentekanaal more intensively, so that the business park is more hidden from view.”
In any case, hydrogen is not dangerous or harmful to the environment. If gas escapes, it rises at 18 meters per second. There is in no way a gas cloud floating over the city or a neighborhood. Green hydrogen will certainly not pollute the soil. Thanks for staying up to date with Hydrogen Central.
Metal producer Aurubis will be one of the buyers of hydrogen to make the production process greener. The company will soon receive hydrogen directly from the hydrogen plant via an underground pipeline. In the long term, GldH2 also wants to supply hydrogen via a pipeline to other companies on industrial estate De Mars and to historic homes in the city center.
If the subsidy is awarded, GldH2 must get to work quickly. One of the conditions of the subsidy provider is that all projects must run by the end of 2023. With a delivery time of 16 months for the factory, that is still quite a challenge.
Tension rises for new hydrogen plant in Zutphen, ZUTPHEN, December 21, 2021
