Netherlands-based Gasunie’s subsidiary Hynetwork and its Belgian counterpart Fluxys are on a mission to establish a cross-border hydrogen link so that the Netherlands and Belgium can tap into common low-emission power.
Gasunie and Fluxys have entered into a joint development agreement – JDA to connect the Dutch and Belgian hydrogen infrastructure. Where possible, the cross-border hydrogen link between the Netherlands and Belgium will be built by converting existing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen transmission.
The two players want to achieve this connection by 2030. The border point near Zandvliet, between the Dutch province of Zeeland as well as the Belgian province of Antwerp, is being regarded as the first strategic bidirectional node connecting key import and production sites to industrial clusters, comprising the North Sea Port along with the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands and also the ports of Antwerp and Ghent in Belgium.
Gasunie’s Hydrogen Transport Director, Helmie Botter, commented, “Cross-border hydrogen trade and transport are crucial for a properly functioning hydrogen market in northwestern Europe. With this infrastructure, we’re enabling hydrogen transport between the Netherlands and Belgium. Our goal is an integrated hydrogen market.
“Through close collaboration between Gasunie and other transmission system operators, we’re making cross-border transport as easy as possible, empowering industry across Europe to go sustainable. That’s ultimately what we’re working towards.”
The cross-border hydrogen link is anticipated to help realize the ambition to go ahead and create an integrated, open, and accessible hydrogen transmission network across northwestern Europe to bolster energy independence and, at the same time, decarbonize industry. The agreement between the two companies also provides for the development of further border points.
The JDA is considered an important step to closer cooperation, with the two companies agreeing on key technical and organizational issues, including planning, site, capacity, and other details. Such deals are said to be necessary to enable hydrogen to be transported safely and reliably across the border.
The director of Fluxys hydrogen, Ben de Waele, noted, “We are currently already building multi-molecule infrastructure between the town of Zelzate and Antwerp’s port area. Under this agreement, we’re joining forces to develop bidirectional hydrogen transport infrastructure between Belgium and the Netherlands. We are also working on pipeline infrastructure to connect other neighbouring countries and thus help expand the hydrogen network across northwestern Europe.”
This joint initiative of cross-border hydrogen link by Hynetwork and Fluxys is a strong signal to the international hydrogen market that the development of a cross-border hydrogen network is well on its way.