Netherlands Opens 32km Hydrogen Pipeline

Why this is here: The new pipeline runs entirely within the Port of Rotterdam’s industrial area in the province of South Holland.

Gasunie in the Netherlands has completed a 32-kilometer hydrogen pipeline within the Port of Rotterdam. The pipeline connects the Maasvlakte area—a developing green hydrogen production hub—to Pernis, a petrochemical and refining center. This new infrastructure enables the transport of low-carbon hydrogen to existing industrial users, aiming to replace fossil-based hydrogen in refining and chemical processes.

Construction of the national hydrogen network began in October 2023. Gasunie also signed an agreement with German operators to develop a cross-border hydrogen connection expected around 2031. The company plans to expand the network to connect more industrial regions and storage facilities.

Researchers at the University of Lausanne and GFZ Helmholtz Centre found that erosion impacts natural hydrogen formation, though rapid erosion can hinder it. The pipeline's full potential depends on scaling up hydrogen production and addressing these geological limitations. Work to expand the network continues.