Dutch Tulip Farm Becomes World's First to Produce Green Hydrogen On-Site

2026-02-17 green

Netherlands, Tuesday, 17 February 2026.
Rainbow Colors tulip farm in the Netherlands has installed the world’s third-largest solid oxide electrolyzer, making it the first agricultural company globally to produce green hydrogen on-site. The 1 MW system converts surplus solar power into hydrogen at costs below €10 per kilogram, operating at 750°C with 90% efficiency when using residual heat. This groundbreaking project addresses grid congestion while providing farmers with affordable clean energy independence.

Pioneering Agricultural Innovation in North Holland

Rainbow Colors, a tulip forcing company located in Andijk, North Holland, Netherlands, has achieved a world-first milestone by becoming the first agricultural business globally to install a solid oxide electrolyzer for green hydrogen production [1][3][6]. The company’s 1 MW installation ranks as the third-largest operational solid oxide electrolyzer worldwide, representing a significant technological leap for the agricultural sector [3][6]. This groundbreaking project emerged from Rainbow Colors’ participation as a pilot location within the Fieldlab Waterstof in de Agri initiative since 2023, where the company has been focusing on hydrogen production using surplus solar power combined with battery storage systems [1][6].

International Collaboration Drives Technical Excellence

The project represents a sophisticated international partnership, with Rainbow Colors collaborating with Danish technology company Dynelectro, which supplies the electrolyzer technology, and Dutch engineering firm Ekinetix, responsible for infrastructure development [1][6]. Dynelectro’s solid oxide electrolyzer operates at high temperatures of approximately 750 degrees Celsius, achieving up to 90% efficiency when utilizing residual heat [1][9]. This advanced technology offers superior performance compared to conventional electrolyzers, with longer lifespan and higher efficiency expected to significantly reduce hydrogen production costs [6]. The modular design of the installation also enables future expansion possibilities, providing scalability for growing hydrogen demands [9].

Economic Impact and Cost Breakthrough

The installation aims to produce hydrogen at costs below €10 per kilogram, making affordable green hydrogen available in the Netherlands [1][3]. This cost target represents a crucial economic breakthrough for hydrogen adoption in agricultural applications, addressing the long-standing challenge of making clean energy economically viable for farm operations [GPT]. Beau Broen, project leader at New Energy Coalition and coordinator of the hydrogen pilot projects within Fieldlab Waterstof in de Agri, emphasized the project’s significance: ‘It is impressive to see how international innovation comes together in this project. By implementing Dynelectro’s electrolyser at project partner Rainbow Colors, the region is taking an important step towards decentralized hydrogen production. It also provides an economic boost by making affordable green hydrogen available. The project underlines the innovative role North Holland North plays in the energy transition’ [1][3][6].

Addressing Grid Congestion and Energy Independence

The hydrogen production system directly addresses critical infrastructure challenges facing Dutch agriculture, particularly grid congestion issues that increasingly affect agricultural entrepreneurs [6][9]. Rainbow Colors has been generating substantial solar power through photovoltaic panels, and the new system enables the company to convert excess electricity that cannot be directly used into hydrogen storage [9]. This approach provides a practical solution for energy storage while reducing strain on the electrical grid during peak solar generation periods [GPT]. The produced hydrogen can later be utilized as a clean energy source for machinery, transportation, or heating applications, creating a closed-loop sustainable energy system [9]. The commissioning of this facility makes locally produced green hydrogen available in the Netherlands, helping to break the traditional ‘chicken-and-egg’ problem where hydrogen production stagnates due to lack of demand, while applications remain limited due to insufficient supply [6].

Bronnen

green hydrogen sustainable agriculture