Germany and Netherlands Launch Joint Hydrogen Import Initiative
Rotterdam, Thursday, 22 May 2025.
Germany and the Netherlands commence a cooperative effort to boost sustainable hydrogen imports to Northwest Europe, emphasizing green energy transitions and enhanced regional economic prospects.
Historic Joint Investment
In a groundbreaking announcement at the World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam on May 21, 2025, Climate and Green Growth Minister Sophie Hermans revealed a €600 million joint tender between Germany and the Netherlands. Each nation will contribute €300 million to kickstart sustainable hydrogen imports into Northwest Europe [1][3]. This unprecedented collaboration marks the first time two European nations have jointly funded an H2Global auction, establishing a crucial framework for cross-border energy policy [3].
Strategic Implementation
The initiative will be executed by the German organization Hintco, building upon their successful experience with previous H2Global auctions [1]. The tender employs a dual-sided approach: selecting the lowest bids from producers while choosing the highest bidders among industrial consumers, with public funds covering the ‘green price difference’ [3]. Global hydrogen producers can participate in the tender, with companies in both Germany and the Netherlands committed to purchasing the imported renewable hydrogen for their industrial processes [1].
Infrastructure Development
Supporting this import initiative, the Delta Rhine Corridor (DRC) project is being developed to establish crucial hydrogen infrastructure. The project, split into DRC West and DRC East, will create underground pipeline networks connecting Rotterdam to Boxtel and extending to the German border near Venlo [5]. Project procedures for DRC West are scheduled to commence in September 2025, while DRC East is slated to begin by year-end [5].
Market Impact and Future Prospects
The timing of this initiative aligns with broader European hydrogen development goals. A recent EU Hydrogen Bank auction has already allocated €992 million out of a €1.2 billion budget, with one Dutch project securing the highest premium of €0.60 per kilogram [4]. The first deliveries under the new German-Dutch tender are expected to begin in 2026, marking a significant step toward establishing a sustainable hydrogen economy in Northwest Europe [3].