Wind meets Gas 2024 from an expert perspective

The 2024 Wind Meets Gas Symposium brought together energy leaders, innovators, knowledge institutions, and policymakers to explore solutions to the complex challenges of energy security, sustainability, and the growing role of hydrogen. This year's discussions focused on financing strategies, market enablement, and preparing future generations for a green energy landscape. The event brought together participants from across Europe and beyond, including high-level representatives such as the ambassadors of Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, and Norway, as well as diplomats from Estonia, Poland, and Sweden. In this article, I share my experience as a participant and present the highlights and key takeaways from the two-day event.

Wind meets Gas day one

The first day focused on one of today's most pressing challenges: implementing innovative ideas and projects. The day's main theme, "From Mind to Matter," was introduced by Marieke Abbink-Pellenbarg, CEO of New Energy Coalition. Specific topics were also presented, such as promoting the integration of wind and gas infrastructure (clean hydrogen and CO2), stimulating innovation in hydrogen production, storage, and applications, and ensuring that investments in green hydrogen projects are financially viable. The symposium's emphasis on collaboration emphasised the need for both electrification and low-carbon molecules, with Gasunie CEO Willemien Terpstra emphasising that neither can drive the energy transition alone. The need for a dual approach to mitigate climate change and strengthen Europe's energy security was a recurring theme throughout the event.

Another highlight was the Nordic Investment Bank's presentation on what makes an innovative hydrogen project bankable. It revealed that the main limiting factor for securing financing is the offtake agreement, specifically the volume and duration required to meet the requirements. Green hydrogen producers don't sell hydrogen directly as a feedstock, but instead use it to produce marketable products such as green fertilisers and e-fuels, which strengthens the business case.

The presentation by the managing director of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners conveyed three clear messages about hydrogen production: By 2050, approximately fifty percent of hydrogen demand can be supplied by both the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, and offshore wind energy will be an important source for its production. Hydrogen produced offshore (using offshore wind energy) will be cheaper than hydrogen production on land. This will require the development of infrastructure for energy production and hydrogen for offshore and domestic transport.

I was particularly inspired by the progress in Nordic projects, with examples from Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden, where the integration of renewable energy and hydrogen is progressing rapidly, creating scalable and commercially viable hydrogen markets across the region. The panel addressed the unique financial needs of green hydrogen projects and discussed models that reduce investor risk, engage communities, and stimulate the end-use of hydrogen across sectors, while promoting the technologies needed to meet climate goals.

During the day many other sessions were held sharing progress and experiences in Northern Europe on topics such as hydrogen infrastructure in the Netherlands (HyDelta project) and the North Sea (North Sea Energy project), cross-border hydrogen transport and storage, its use in the built environment, and social engagement. The event provided a great platform for networking and business development in the energy sector through matchmaking sessions. In addition, New Energy Coalition including two important announcements for the region Noord-Nederland:

1) The release of the report “Essay on the current and potential future energy exchange relations between the Nordics and Baltics (Northern Flank of Europe, NFoE) and Northwest Europe, and the Netherlands in particular”, prepared by Prof. Em. Catrinus J. Jepma (Senior Advisor, New Energy Coalition) and Miralda van Schot (Strategy Advisor, Port of Amsterdam). The document presents the future supply of clean and affordable energy from NFOE to Northwest Europe, particularly the Netherlands, and emphasizes the need for collaboration, coordination, and information sharing to realize this potential.

2) The handing over of a feasibility study on the greening potential for the East Groningen Industrial Cluster to the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth. This study, conducted by New Energy Coalition, shows how hydrogen production from Eemshaven not only contributes to lower CO2 emissions, but also offers a new economic perspective for the region and can develop into Europe's first regional hydrogen cluster.

Wind meets Gas day two

On the second day, the main topics focused on future infrastructure and spatial needs in the Eemshaven/Delfzijl Seaports, and the role young leaders will play in the energy transition in general. On that last point, they emphasised the need to foster a sustainability mindset among young professionals. They were equipped with the skills to create innovative clean energy solutions to address energy security and climate change. This will help the sector develop an innovative workforce that will accelerate the energy transition in the future.

Overall, the symposium emphasised that cross-sector and cross-border collaboration is crucial for achieving a sustainable energy future. As examples from Northern European countries demonstrated, this can be achieved by aligning strategies for developing wind energy and gas infrastructure. These examples also demonstrated that the development of such infrastructure, with the right mix of innovative financial frameworks and policy support, can create scalable and commercially viable hydrogen markets and foster a sustainable energy ecosystem that benefits both society and the environment. Moreover, with the commitment of industry leaders, knowledge institutions, and the dedication of young professionals, ambitious goals can be turned into reality.

I look forward to seeing how these insights will inspire future projects and collaborations as we continue to advance the energy transition. Congratulations to my colleagues and partners who organized and delivered such a successful event!