Rapport: Nieuwe Energie voor Groningen
In early 2023, the ‘Future of Groningen’ plan was launched by Groningen Seaports and New Energy Coalition to accelerate the development of the hydrogen chain in the northern Netherlands. The starting point? Getting the region to benefit structurally from this energy transition, with improvements in broad prosperity, employment and the regional image. This plan has since been further deepened and renamed ‘New Energy for Groningen’ with a contribution from almost 30 government bodies, knowledge institutions and companies from the Northern Netherlands. This updated plan serves as a foundation for Groningen’s social and economic agenda, because all these parties believe it is important to restore the trust of the Groningers, solve the problems that have arisen as a result of gas extraction and invest in a future-proof province with proud Groningers. The report was presented to the Chief of the Economic Agenda, Mr Jakob Klompien, in autumn 2024.
The region faces both opportunities and challenges. Developments such as high energy prices, energy poverty, grid congestion, and a changing economic climate require quick and smart adjustments. At the same time, growing international hydrogen routes and planned hydrogen production at Eemshaven from 2029 offer hopeful prospects. Projects that tie in with these hopeful prospects are getting off to a vigorous start. For instance, the companies united in the ‘IndustrieCluster Oost-Groningen’ are keen to go green and a pre-feasibility study into the greening possibilities shows that a switch to hydrogen is a serious and feasible option.
Following the launch of the ‘Future of Groningen’ plan in 2023, several themes have been worked on in working groups.
- Theme 1: Guaranteed large-scale landfall of offshore wind in Groningen
- Theme 2: A North Sea-Ems tunnel corridor for cables and pipelines
- Theme 3: Adequate space and infrastructure around Eemshaven/Delfzijl
- Theme 4: Affordable and sustainable heat from the region as an accelerator of the energy transition and measure against energy poverty
- Theme 5: Measures to support local cluster-6 companies and SMEs
- Theme 6: Measures to strengthen innovation capacity and employment
- Theme 7: Participation, for support among residents and businesses
This report ‘New Energy for Groningen’ discusses the progress and input of working groups for each theme. It also discusses the impact of ‘New Energy for Groningen’, the realisation of the plan with an accompanying action plan and the overall financing of the plan with a corresponding draft budget. To realise the plan, a significant investment is needed, which must come from public and private sources. An initial contribution of €66 million for the ‘New Energy for Groningen’ has been requested from the Nij Begun funds. The report concludes with a vista for the Netherlands, and in particular the Northern Netherlands, in 2050.
For more information, please contact Marieke Abbink-Pellenbarg, CEO New Energy Coalition.
