8 April 2026 | R&D

New subsidy call for direct use of hydrogen in industry and energy

The use of hydrogen as a direct energy carrier offers concrete opportunities to decarbonise sectors where electrification is not a viable alternative, such as high-temperature industrial processes and heavy transport. This requires new solutions in technology, safety and system integration, areas already addressed within the R&D programme of GroenvermogenNL. With this additional call, NWO and GroenvermogenNL take a next step in advancing applications for the direct use of hydrogen.

Within the HyUSE project (Hydrogen technology development and assessment for accelerated use), a consortium has been working since 2023 on technologies, system solutions and enabling conditions for the direct use of hydrogen towards 2030.

This spring, HyUSE will be expanded through a new call (theme/work package 3, phase 2). The focus is on the direct use of hydrogen and hydrogen carriers as fuels for direct energy generation and high-temperature processes, as well as on application scenarios for industries not yet addressed within HyUSE.

From development to deployment

HyUSE focuses on research into the development of technologies for furnaces, gas turbines, combustion engines and fuel cells, as well as the techno-economic aspects of various hydrogen applications.

The new call places emphasis on further concretisation and real-world application. Its objective is to bring the use of hydrogen closer to implementation and to contribute to the decarbonisation of Dutch industry.

Three integrated research lines

The call targets three interconnected research areas:

Heat processes, including the direct use of hydrogen and ammonia as fuels for high-temperature applications
Technologies for the direct conversion of hydrogen into energy
Hybrid energy storage and integration into energy systems

In addition, there is scope for new industrial applications, such as data centres and other energy-intensive sectors not yet covered within HyUSE.

€9 million subsidy for one consortium

Approximately €9 million in subsidy is available for this call. A maximum of one consortium will be selected to develop an integrated research and innovation programme. Consortium formation will take place through a sandpit approach with mandatory workshops, in which participating parties jointly develop a single proposal.

About the GroenvermogenNL R&D programme

This additional call for research into the direct use of hydrogen is part of the R&D programme of GroenvermogenNL. A total of €177 million is available for seven R&D projects and two additional projects in 2026.

The R&D projects are developed through a unique sandpit procedure, in which stakeholders jointly shape a single, widely supported proposal through a series of workshop sessions.

Information session on 13 May

On 13 May, NWO and GroenvermogenNL will host an information session about this additional call.

More information and registration