HyTROS: Hydrogen research: transport, above- and underground storage, offshore transport and storage, and safety

The Netherlands is Europe’s second-largest hydrogen producer. Almost all hydrogen currently comes from fossil fuels. By 2030, the Netherlands wants to have 4GW of electrolysis capacity. The main challenge to producing green hydrogen on that large scale is to investigate to which extent the current natural gas system on land (onshore) and sea (offshore) can be reused for hydrogen, where new assets are needed, and what needs to be arranged for the new energy system to operate safely and cost-effectively with public support. This requires more research on hydrogen production, transport and storage along the entire hydrogen value chain. The HyTROS (Hydrogen Transport, Offshore and Storage) project will research transport (especially via pipelines), above- and underground storage, offshore transport and storage and safety.

The HyTROS consortium came about through an innovative procedure of Growth Fund programme GroenvermogenNL and NWO. In two intensive workshops of three days each, all parties involved worked on the now-honoured project proposal. Normally, several proposals are submitted in competition; in this procedure, parties were challenged to work in national co-creation. And with success! The HyTROS consortium consists of 10 universities three research institutes, two graduate schools and 17 industrial partners. All national and regional grid operators that will transport hydrogen, future storage operators and supply industry for on- and offshore pipeline installations, inspection and maintenance are participating in the HyTROS project.

University of Groningen, Radboud University, Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, Wageningen University, University of Amsterdam, University of Twente, Utrecht University, CWI, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Leiden University, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, TNO, Deltares, VSL, HyET E-Trol, Shell Global Solutions International, N.V. Gasunie, EBN, Nobian Industrial Chemicals, Allseas Group SA, Worley Netherlands, DNV Netherlands, Netbeheer Nederland, SKF, Neptune Energy, Voyex, Aliaxis, Fluidwell, TAQA Energy, ONE-Dyas.

GroenvermogenNL’s R&D programme is divided into seven work packages. NWO carries out the calls for the work packages.The HyTROS programme is the result of work package 2: Transport and storage of Hydrogen..

The HyTROS project receives €14 million in funding can count on over €4 million in contributions from industry.