Netherlands to produce large-scale hydrogen at sea over Groningen: 'Leading the way globally'

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No more gas from Groningen, but hydrogen? North of province will be a wind farm producing hydrogen on a large scale. Minister Rob Jetten announces. "With this plan we are leading the way worldwide."

the wind farm north of Groningen is to become the largest hydrogen production site at sea. The wind farm will have some 500 megawatts of electrolysis capacity. The area above the Wadden Sea is the ideal location, according to Minister Rob Jetten, because a wind farm was already planned here. Moreover, he thinks that an existing natural gas pipeline can be reused for transport to land and that it can be well connected to the hydrogen network on land.

Creating clarity

"This is a big scoop on top of the Climate Accord target of four gigawatts of electrolysis by 2030," says Jetten. "We have already designated the area as a preferred location, so that preparations can start quickly and we give clarity to the sector so that they can start making their investment plans." According to the ministry, there is a lot of support for the project in Groningen and local governments support the plans. "The province and the municipality are fully committed to a green economy, in which the production of renewable energy is central."

Cooperation in the region

The ministry is working with the Groningen region and other interested parties around the Wadden area. It is currently investigating how a hydrogen pipeline can be brought from the wind farm to land and "how hydrogen production can be done safely and ecologically responsible. This year we will work out what the hydrogen network at sea should look like and whether it is possible to reuse existing gas pipelines. By 2031, the wind farm should be operational.