Dutch Greenhouse Growers Eye Hydrogen to Secure Future Energy Supplies

2026-09-26 green

The Hague, Saturday, 26 September 2026.
Although traditional natural gas remains cheaper, Dutch greenhouse growers are strategically investing in hydrogen infrastructure now to avoid missing out on the nation’s future clean energy grid.

A Strategic Pivot Amid Market Realities

On September 10, 2026, the Dutch greenhouse horticulture sector convened a pivotal meeting organized by the industry program Kas als Energiebron and Glastuinbouw Nederland [1][2]. The gathering brought together growers, grid operators, energy companies, and technical experts to evaluate the strategic integration of hydrogen within the industry’s energy mix [1][2]. While hydrogen was widely celebrated as the ‘new gold’ three years prior, global enthusiasm has cooled as high costs have led to the postponement or cancellation of numerous electrolyzer scale-up projects [5]. Despite these market setbacks, sector leaders argue that greenhouse operators cannot afford to take a passive stance while the construction of the national hydrogen backbone continues to advance [5].

Balancing Current Economics with 2040 Ambitious Climate Targets

According to economic assessments conducted by consultancy BlueTerra, traditional natural gas-powered combined heat and power (CHP) installations remain highly competitive and difficult to displace in the short term [1][5]. However, Glastuinbouw Nederland and Kas als Energiebron view hydrogen not as an immediate replacement, but as a vital strategic hedge against future risks [1]. These risks include volatile energy markets, escalating carbon dioxide costs, power grid congestion, and potential shifts in government subsidy frameworks [1]. Actively preparing for hydrogen integration is considered essential for the sector to achieve its long-term commitment of reaching profitable, climate-neutral production by the year 2040 [3].

Regional Infrastructure and the Challenge of Residual Heat

The practical challenges of transitioning to hydrogen are already unfolding in regional greenhouse clusters, such as in Terneuzen, Netherlands [4]. The local heat network WarmCO2, a subsidiary of North Sea Port, currently delivers heat and carbon dioxide to local greenhouses by sourcing energy from the fertilizer manufacturer Yara Sluiskil [4]. To establish a redundant energy source, WarmCO2 secured a €3.15 million Just Transition Fund (JTF) grant in 2024 to connect to 20 MW of residual heat from a planned green hydrogen plant designed by developer VoltH2 [4]. Although WarmCO2 secured an SDE++ subsidy in August 2026, the project remains delayed because VoltH2 has not yet made a final investment decision on the facility [4].

Financial Performance and Local Cooperation

Despite infrastructural uncertainties, WarmCO2’s financial performance showed positive momentum, with revenues rising from €7.3 million in 2024 to €8.1 million in 2025, representing an increase of 10.959 percent [4]. Simultaneously, the network’s procurement costs for heat and carbon dioxide decreased from €2.4 million to €2.1 million, a reduction of 12.5 percent [4]. To safeguard future heat supplies and address ongoing grid constraints, local growers—including 4Evergreen, VGT Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, Alvonto, and Van Duijn De Jong—collaboratively established the ‘Energie Cluster Terneuzen’ earlier in 2026 [4].

Leadership Transitions in Regional Energy Accords

Facilitating these complex regional energy transitions requires strong administrative alignment. On September 25, 2026, Greenport West-Holland announced the appointment of Frank van Kuppeveld as its new Energy Program Manager and Space & Economy Program Manager, succeeding Martin van der Hout who had served in the role since 2022 [6]. Van Kuppeveld, a former alderman for sustainable greenhouse horticulture in Pijnacker-Nootdorp, will oversee the third phase of the region’s Energy Accord [6]. Established in 2017, the Accord has successfully deployed geothermal wells and heat networks across the Westland, and its medium-term roadmap now focuses on executing new innovation pilots utilizing hydrogen [6].

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hydrogen energy greenhouse horticulture