Does green hydrogen play a crucial role in the energy transition? Or are there too many drawbacks and are we heading down a dead end? Patrick Cnubben firmly believes the former. He has been a hydrogen advocate from the very beginning. Originally from Limburg but now living and working in Groningen, he is currently linking various stakeholders in the eastern Netherlands. On the eve of European Hydrogen Week, we spoke to him about the region’s progress in the field of hydrogen.
To reduce its energy dependence on gas and oil from countries such as Russia, the EU is focusing, amongst other things, on green hydrogen. “By 2030, the EU aims to produce ten million tonnes of renewable hydrogen itself and import a further ten million tonnes,” explains Patrick Cnubben. Production is the biggest challenge. To this end, ‘Hydrogen Valleys’ have now been established across Europe. Cnubben: “These are regional ecosystems where the entire hydrogen value chain is represented. So the production, storage, transport and redistribution of hydrogen, plus its applications in industry, the built environment and mobility. These are innovation projects, designed to test and learn from them.”
Cnubben knows what he’s talking about: he was the driving force behind the creation of Europe’s first Hydrogen Valley, in the northern Netherlands. “When I approached Brussels to secure more hydrogen buses for the Groningen region, I was asked to set up a Hydrogen Valley of this kind. That’s how the HEAVENN project came about.” He subsequently developed several similar ecosystems both at home and abroad. “I mainly bring together the interests of the public and private sectors by connecting the various parties.”
At a crossroads
Through his own consultancy firm, Hydrogen Architects, Cnubben is now helping Oost NL, The Economic Board, the Stedendriehoek strategic board and Twenteboard to set up a Hydrogen Valley in the eastern Netherlands. It is to be named Hy East Valley. “It offers many advantages, as it allows you to pool resources. Together, Gelderland and Overijssel not only cover a very large area, but are also situated in a very strategic location. Energy flows such as natural gas and electricity travel from north to south in the Netherlands, whilst logistics flows go from west to east. The eastern Netherlands is situated right at that crossroads. Furthermore, it has North Rhine-Westphalia as a major neighbour, where there is a great need for hydrogen. “If we work together effectively, there is enormous potential in the production, transport and consumption of hydrogen, technology development, implementation, the maintenance of installations, as well as the education and training of sufficiently skilled personnel, from tradespeople to academics.”
An important step for Hydrogen Valley is drawing up a business plan. This will be submitted to the EU in April 2025 with the aim of securing funding. “We deliberately refer to a business plan rather than a grant application. If you don’t come up with a sound plan, you’ll be out of the running straight away. The grant is nothing more than a tool to stimulate innovation and bridge the unprofitable gap, making it even more attractive for entrepreneurs to get involved.”
Branch hydrogen backbone
Of course, much more needs to be done besides drawing up a plan. “It is primarily a matter of linking existing projects, which are often still somewhat insular, with one another. Applications in industry, the built environment and mobility are also very important. A great deal of promising work is already taking place in this region in these areas, including at the various brickworks and paper mills. With other interesting industries such as food and high-tech, and the presence of IPKW, the region has great potential.”
For the Arnhem/Nijmegen region and the rest of the eastern Netherlands, it is important that a branch is established from Gasunie’s major hydrogen network, which is currently under development. Cnubben: “That hydrogen backbone will form a sort of ring network across the Netherlands, initially connecting the major industrial clusters. It runs through Gelderland and Overijssel, but there are currently no plans for a branch line to local and regional industry. It would be ideal to eventually be able to feed hydrogen into that network and, of course, draw it from it.” An intensive lobbying campaign is underway for this, in which various parties are collaborating. “I’m convinced that this branch line will be built, but the only question is when.”
Become a recognised player
Earlier this year, Cnubben took part in an exploratory mission to Morocco organised by The Economic Board. “You can’t produce all the hydrogen yourself; you’ll also have to import some.” Morocco has ambitious plans for development. “There are various ways to get that hydrogen here.”
“Entrepreneurs in the Arnhem-Nijmegen region are doing very well in the field of green hydrogen,” says Cnubben. He is referring, among other things, to the many hydrogen start-ups in the area and the energy collaboration at the InnoFase business park. But collaboration at the triple-helix level is essential, he points out. “Otherwise, all sorts of organisations work on good initiatives in isolation from one another, but you won’t make any progress. The work of The Economic Board is very important in this regard. They’re doing great things on a budget that’s far too limited.”
“There’s definitely something going on with the climate,” says Cnubben. “You can’t afford to do nothing. Green hydrogen is certainly not the only solution; you also need to get to grips with other solutions: from wind turbines and solar parks on land and at sea right through to green gas. But hydrogen certainly plays a major role. You have to realise that you’re now taking the first steps on a long journey. It all starts with a plan. A Hydrogen Valley is just such a plan. It could give the region a real boost.”
European Hydrogen Week, which began on Monday 18 November, is a key moment for the region. “We’re trying to speak to as many people as possible there to raise awareness of our plans and establish a position within the wider hydrogen sector. The eastern Netherlands is an incredibly strong region. Now it’s important to become a recognised and acknowledged player in this field.”
