Netherlands Launches €13 Million Hydrogen Infrastructure Research Initiative

2026-02-03 green

The Hague, Tuesday, 3 February 2026.
The Dutch Research Council has opened a major funding call targeting critical hydrogen logistics challenges, with €13 million available for a single national consortium of researchers and companies. This investment focuses on three key areas: liquid hydrogen transport and storage, hydrogen carrier conversion including ammonia and organic carriers, and port infrastructure optimization. The initiative represents a strategic move to position the Netherlands as a hydrogen import hub, addressing technical barriers that currently limit large-scale hydrogen adoption. Unlike traditional competitive funding, this call requires collaboration between industry and academia in one unified project, with companies eligible for up to 40% subsidies and mandatory consortium-building workshops scheduled for spring 2026.

Strategic Framework and Funding Structure

The funding call operates under the Nationaal Groeifondsprogramma GroenvermogenNL, which serves as the investment program for the Netherlands’ green economic capacity [1]. The program specifically aims to make green hydrogen the driving force for transitioning from a fossil fuel-based society and industry toward sustainable energy supply [1]. NWO will finance a maximum of 80% of project costs, requiring consortiums to provide 20% co-financing or their own contribution [2][3]. The project duration can extend up to six years, providing substantial time for comprehensive research and development [3]. This represents the eighth project within GroenvermogenNL’s broader R&D program, which has allocated a total of €177 million across nine research projects [4][5].

Critical Infrastructure Challenges Addressed

The research initiative tackles fundamental logistical barriers that currently impede large-scale hydrogen deployment. Hydrogen must be transported from production sites and import ports to end-use locations, requiring sophisticated infrastructure solutions [2][4]. The call specifically addresses three research directions: import, transport and storage of liquid hydrogen (LH₂); import, conversion, transport and storage of hydrogen carriers such as ammonia or liquid organic carriers; and development and optimization of port infrastructure, supply chains and conversion hubs [1][2][4]. These technical challenges are particularly critical for the Netherlands’ ambition to become a major hydrogen import hub, leveraging existing port infrastructure while developing new conversion capabilities [2][4]. The research will focus on both utilizing existing infrastructure and integrating new supply chains essential for large-scale hydrogen and hydrogen carrier imports [2][4].

Collaborative Consortium Formation Process

Unlike traditional competitive funding mechanisms, this initiative requires the formation of a single national consortium comprising companies and research institutions [2][4][5]. The consortium formation process involves two mandatory multi-day workshops, with the first scheduled for April 1-3, 2026, and the second for May 5-7, 2026 [3]. Participation in both workshops is mandatory for the main applicant [1][3]. Organizations can register for consortium building through NWO’s ISAAC system until March 10, 2026, at 14:00 CET [3][4]. The collaborative approach ensures that industry needs remain central to the research agenda, with no competition between individual applicants as parties work together on one unified plan [2][4].

Timeline and Implementation Strategy

The funding call officially opened on February 3, 2026, with GroenvermogenNL and NWO hosting an information session on February 5, 2026, from 14:00 to 17:30 at Haags Hoog in The Hague [2][5][6]. The final application deadline is set for July 9, 2026, at 14:00 CEST, with the ENW board expected to make funding decisions in the fourth quarter of 2026 [3]. This timeline provides organizations with several months to form partnerships and develop comprehensive research proposals. The GroenvermogenNL investment program itself runs until 2028, ensuring continuity for successful projects [1][4]. Companies participating in the consortium can apply for subsidies up to 40% of their project costs, making the initiative financially attractive for private sector participation [2][4]. The program’s ultimate goal is to establish the technological foundations necessary for building a new industry and attractive business climate in the Netherlands’ evolving hydrogen economy [1][4].

Bronnen

hydrogen infrastructure energy transition