On Friday, Oct. 4, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander opened Hysolar's electrolyser (production station) at KWR in Nieuwegein. The electrolyser produces green hydrogen for the hydrogen filling station at Aannemingsbedrijf Jos Scholman. The electrolyser came about with European funding through the Life NEW HYTS project. Before the official opening, a short seminar took place with, among others, the initiators of Hysolar, Aannemingsbedrijf Jos Scholman, filling station builder Van Kessel/Greenpoint and innovation accelerator Allied Waters.
In the presence of two hundred guests and seated in a hydrogen-powered crane truck, King Willem-Alexander unveiled the new production station. This officially launched the production of green hydrogen in the municipality of Nieuwegein.
From knowledge to application
Following this ceremony, the king participated in several table discussions with representatives of various companies, knowledge institutions and organizations. The discussions focused on the role of hydrogen as a sustainable energy carrier and future applications. Those present emphasized that knowledge transfer plays a crucial role in the further development of hydrogen technology. Representatives of training institute Innovam and the Openbaar Lyceum Zeist presented their initiatives in this field.
Utrecht regional product
During the seminar, several experts shared their views on the current and future applications of green hydrogen. KWR director Mariëlle van der Zouwen acted as moderator. In his keynote, Emeritus Professor Ad van Wijk spoke about the origins and development of the Hysolar project. Van Wijk cited future thinker Jules Verne, who predicted in 1874 that hydrogen could become an important source of energy. "150 years later, we are realizing this vision of the future with the opening of an electrolyser that produces green hydrogen from water," Van Wijk said. Delegate of the province of Utrecht André van Schie called the green hydrogen from the Nieuwegein electrolyser a new Utrecht regional product of which we can be proud.
European perspective
The European perspective on the hydrogen economy was discussed in a Q&A with Alexandre Paquot (Directorate General for Climate Action of the European Commission) and Marieke Schouten (Alderman for Energy Transition, Sustainability and Climate Municipality of Nieuwegein). They discussed how hydrogen contributes to green growth of the economy. Pacquot: "We are well on our way with thirty percent less CO2 emissions. Hydrogen can play an important role in further emission reduction, as we aim to do with the Green Deal Industrial Plan." Schouten complemented: "The combination of driven organizations like Hysolar with scientific research and applied knowledge has led to this result."
Believe in the potential of hydrogen
Initiators of Hysolar also spoke. Robert Scholman emphasized that his family business believes in the potential of hydrogen as a green energy carrier. "Hydrogen enables us to use our vehicles and machines sustainably and emission-free, without any additional load on the electricity grid." Joan van Kessel added: "Green hydrogen is, next to electricity, the only way to drive emission-free and generate energy. We want to build a strategic network of hydrogen refueling stations and thus stimulate the production and distribution of green hydrogen in the Netherlands."
Application of green hydrogen
Green hydrogen can contribute not only to emission-free mobility, but also to sustainability in other sectors, such as industry and construction. During his presentation, Jos Boere of Hysolar/Allied Waters gave an insight into the possibilities for large-scale application of hydrogen, including in shipping. "The Hysolar consortium combines practical experience with scientific expertise to make green hydrogen widely applicable, in the Netherlands and abroad," Boere said.
How does the production station work?
Hysolar's production site, located on the KWR site, is one of the first green hydrogen production stations in the Netherlands. The facility has the capacity to produce 300,000 kg of green hydrogen annually. This amount is sufficient to run about sixty buses or trucks completely emission-free for a year.
The production station is equipped with an electrolyser, a device that uses electricity to split water (H₂O) into hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂). By using electricity from wind or solar power in this process, "green" hydrogen is produced. The hydrogen produced can be easily stored and transported in various ways. For example, a pipeline runs from the Hysolar production station to the nearby hydrogen filling station.
Made possible in part by the EU Life NEW HYTS program, this project contributes to the regional transition to green hydrogen.
