Employees of Gelderland province, The Economic Board and the Green Metropolitan Region recently paid a joint working visit to the innovative Rijnstate hospital in Elst. During the presentation by project leader Jan Pereboom, we got an insight into the unique way in which this hospital is making sustainability concrete.
How does hydrogen work at Rijnstate Elst?
Rijnstate Elst is the only place in the Netherlands where hydrogen is applied on this scale and in this way in healthcare. A field full of solar panels next to the building generates electricity. If more power is produced than needed, it is converted into hydrogen via electrolysis. That hydrogen is stored and converted back into electricity and heat at times of higher energy demand. In this way, the solar power generated remains maximally utilised - resulting in substantial carbon savings.
Why did Rijnstate choose this innovative approach?
The Green Deal 'Sustainable Care' was the starting point. The construction of the new facility in Elst offered a unique opportunity to include sustainability goals right from the start. The result: a hospital that not only pursues sustainability, but also makes it tangible. Moreover, it strengthens Rijnstate's position as a leader in sustainable care.
What stands out in this project?
The collaboration between the hospital, technology partner PowiDian Energy and the Arnhem Regional Environmental Service (ODRA) is unanimously regarded as highly successful. ODRA played a key role by proactively contributing ideas. The available space on the site also offered advantages: by storing hydrogen at low pressure, costs and safety measures remain manageable.
The installation is operating as intended, although the work is not yet complete. Current energy demand has proved to be higher than initially estimated, which calls for further optimisation of the system configuration. Monitoring and smart management of energy consumption are therefore the next steps. The possibility of sharing energy with the surrounding area is also being explored.
Will there be a follow-up after this visit?
The Economic Board and the Green Metropolitan Region have come together to discuss the topic of hydrogen. One of the reasons for this was a question from the administrative lead for the energy transition priority: what is happening in our region regarding hydrogen, and should we, as decision-makers, be doing more in this area? We intend to explore this.
It appears that a great deal of knowledge is already available — within the provincial government, The Economic Board and the Green Metropolitan Region. The topic of hydrogen will soon be back on the agenda for the consultations on the energy transition priority. Together, we will explore which next steps are necessary and desirable. To be continued!
This article was previously published on: gmr.nl
