Hydrogen Valley status for Noord-Holland
The development of hydrogen in the Dutch province of Noord-Holland has achieved European Hydrogen Valley status. Hydrogen Valley status is an European award for regions that make a distinctive commitment to developing an energy system based on sustainable hydrogen. The region is even designated a "best practice" in the areas of public-private partnerships and financing.
The application for the status was submitted by the province of Noord-Holland, in cooperation with the North Sea Canal Area Programme Office, New Energy Coalition and Ontwikkelingsbedrijf Noord-Holland Noord (ONHN). With the award of EU status, the region is officially part of the European sustainability programme. This has the advantage of providing the region with better access to knowledge and financing from Europe, which can accelerate the transition to a more sustainable energy supply.
Great next step
Edward Stigter, member of the Provincial Executive of Noord-Holland and chair of the North Sea Canal Area Energy Transition Executive Committee: “Awarding Hydrogen Valley status is a fantastic step; it allows us to accelerate the region's sustainability efforts. It's wonderful to be able to scale up our plans for the province with European support. Hydrogen not only contributes to achieving climate goals but, compared to fossil fuels, also ensures cleaner air for our residents.”
North Holland acceleration region
Noord-Holland is ideally positioned to become an accelerator region in the European hydrogen transition. With IJmuiden, Amsterdam, and Den Helder, the region boasts no fewer than three seaports that are crucial for the arrival, import, transport, and storage of sustainable energy. The seaports, combined with Schiphol Airport, the waterways, rail and pipeline connections, and the connection to the national hydrogen network, function exceptionally well for consumption in the region and the transit of sustainable energy to neighboring regions and countries.
Several hydrogen production initiatives are underway within the region. North Holland is unique in its ambition to utilise hydrogen, both large-scale and small-scale. This includes local projects and green hydrogen-based value chains (import, production, storage, distribution, use, and export) in steel production, manufacturing, synthetic fuels, mobility, and agriculture. The focus on reducing industrial emissions and making heavy-duty mobility (such as heavy road transport, cleaning vehicles, and agricultural vehicles) more sustainable ensures a healthy air and living environment for our residents.
The region is also home to Europe's largest hydrogen research facility, TNO's Faraday Lab in Petten. It also boasts a strong innovation and knowledge cluster focused on energy transition, including Techport in the IJmond region, Investa in Alkmaar, Science Park in Amsterdam, and the Energy Transition Campus Amsterdam.
European perspective
Across Europe, 60 regions and projects have been designated Hydrogen Valleys. An overview can be found on the Hydrogen Valley PlatformIn the Netherlands it is about Noord-Nederland and the Port of Rotterdam, and now also North Holland. For the European Commission, the Hydrogen Valleys are an important tool for making the energy supply more sustainable and reducing dependence on energy from outside Europe. All projects and current developments in Noord-Holland Noord you find out this website.