Program

Energy Island Goeree-Overflakkee

H2GO is exploring what green hydrogen can mean for the world in which we live, work, travel and recreate. We are doing that on Goeree-Overflakkee. The South Holland island that has been pioneering in the field of sustainability for years. Thanks to the large-scale generation of sustainable energy from wind and sun, Goeree-Overflakkee is ahead of the rest of the Netherlands. How can green hydrogen help make our daily lives sustainable?

The energy transition demands new solutions. That is why H2GO is exploring the potential of a green hydrogen economy on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee. A broad collaboration between municipalities, local businesses, respected knowledge institutions, education, international players and residents are researching the role of green hydrogen in eight scalable sub-projects. Ranging from mobility to fishing. From gas-free living to a demonstration plant to produce green hydrogen. Working together on innovations that are vital to achieve the objectives from the Climate Agreement.

Hydrogen in the lead role

The future presents us with major challenges. We want to reduce CO₂ emissions and we are going to replace fossil fuels. Sustainable energy sources, such as sun and wind, are an important step in that. However, the yield from sustainable energy sources fluctuates in the course of a day and throughout the year. How do we preserve this renewable energy for the island? What opportunities arise if we convert the local surplus of green energy into green hydrogen? That question formed the starting point for the hydrogen covenant. The agreement that formed the basis of the H2GO programme in 2017. Green hydrogen forms a significant step towards a reliable, sustainable and affordable energy supply.

H2GO – an ambitious hydrogen programme

H2GO is working on scalable sub-projects concerning production, distribution and demand for green hydrogen in various domains of society. The programme has four main objectives: contributing to a reliable energy supply with hydrogen; replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen; reusing the existing natural gas infrastructure for hydrogen; and sharing our expertise and experiences so that it can be duplicated. H2GO applies a directed roll-out strategy. This gives us room to adapt the strategy as we go, if required.

Over 30 H2GO partners are developing innovations concerning sustainable hydrogen. Including for mobility, heating houses, generation and application in agriculture and the production of sustainable fertiliser. H2GO aims for an open system in which hydrogen will become an option for all sectors. So that a small-scale market for demand and supply of green hydrogen will eventually arise on the island. That is also why the projects are mutually connected. The clearly demarcated island of Goeree-Overflakkee serves as the showcase in this.

H2GO will initially achieve a decentralised, flexible production of green hydrogen. In a later phase of the scaling up, it will be possible to further centralise production and to connect demand to the larger networks. With regards to hydrogen transport, we distinguish between two varieties: on the one hand, the use of the existing (gas) infrastructure on the island and on the other, the development of new infrastructure connected to the Rotterdam Harbour Industrial Complex and/or the national backbone for hydrogen.

‘H2GO serves the Netherlands’ hydrogen economy as a whole’

‘As a sustainable frontrunner, Goeree-Overflakkee serves as a testing ground for the rest of the Netherlands.’

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