The H2A (Hydrogen to Amsterdam) consortium has been officially launched in Amsterdam, marking a significant milestone in the development of the green hydrogen value chain. The consortium’s mission is to establish a green hydrogen supply chain by importing one million tonnes of 100 percent green hydrogen annually to and through the port of Amsterdam. The launch event, titled “The Importance of Hydrogen: Propelling the Future,” brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including visionaries, politicians, knowledge institutes, terminals, producers, transporters, offtakers, and ports.
The symposium, attended by approximately 250 people, demonstrated the broad cross-sector support for the use of green hydrogen as a catalyst for change. It was the first time that all these stakeholders appeared on one stage to explore the future of green hydrogen, with Amsterdam positioned as the hub for the North Sea Canal Area and the wider European hinterland.
The H2A consortium consists of eight international members that span multiple links in the green hydrogen ecosystem. Their aim is to create an end-to-end green hydrogen value chain by providing a road to market, as well as the necessary infrastructure, assets, and knowledge. All participants agreed that achieving this goal would require collaboration, utilising existing infrastructure, and accelerating development.
Collaboration was emphasised as the key to unlocking the power of hydrogen. Earl Goetheer, CTO HighTechXL, stated that working together was essential for connecting the port to the future. Ramon Ernst, managing director of Evos, highlighted the importance of building relationships across sectors and regions. Alice Krekt, director NL Hydrogen, stressed that collaboration, rather than competition, was crucial in the field of green hydrogen.
The target of importing one million tonnes of green hydrogen annually sets a clear and ambitious goal. Dorine Bosman, CIO of Port of Amsterdam, acknowledged the scale of the goal but also its ability to inspire and rally support. Misha Valk, Head of Capacity Development at SkyNRG, put the target into perspective by stating that eight million tonnes of green hydrogen would be needed by 2050 for sustainable aviation in Europe.
Amsterdam is uniquely positioned to realize regional, national, and international green hydrogen supply chains due to its existing infrastructure. The port has suitable locations and infrastructure for receiving, storing, and distributing various forms of hydrogen. Additionally, the Amsterdam region encompasses a seaport, airport, and large-scale industry, providing all the necessary infrastructure such as terminals, pipelines, and systems. The port also has direct connections to three of the nine European transport corridors, making it an ideal hub for supplying green hydrogen to the northwest European hinterland.
The urgency of the energy transition was emphasized throughout the event. Diederik Samson, chief of staff of Frans Timmermans and european commission executive vice president, urged stakeholders to take decisive action and reassess their plans. He emphasised the need for a reliable and available supply of hydrogen to meet the growing demand from industries.
The launch event highlighted the importance of infrastructure and the need for swift action, robust regulations, mandates, and subsidies to accelerate the transition to green hydrogen. The H2A consortium, consisting of Port of Amsterdam, Evos Amsterdam, Zenith Energy Terminals, Hydrogenious LOHC, Electriq Global, City of Amsterdam, SkyNRG, and Programmabureau Noordzeekanaalgebied, has announced multiple Memorandums of Understanding for large-scale projects and collaborations.
Overall, the H2A launch marks an important step towards establishing a green hydrogen value chain in Amsterdam and propelling the energy transition. The consortium’s focus on collaboration, infrastructure development, and swift action highlights the commitment of various stakeholders to drive the adoption of green hydrogen and achieve decarbonisation targets.
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