Scaling Hydrogen for a Sustainable Tomorrow
Hydrogen is emerging as a key element of the energy transition. In eastern Netherlands, industry and energy partners are collaborating to explore how hydrogen can be used not only at a large scale but also in practical, decentralized ways that provide immediate local benefits.
An example is the Green Oxygen Hydrogen and Wasteheat (GROHW) project in Deventer. By combining expertise and resources, this consortium is laying the groundwork for a scalable hydrogen network that begins small, proves its value, and is poised for growth.
A first step in Deventer
In early September, the GROHW partners officially opened a hydrogen reception station at the Nefit Bosch site in Deventer. The station features a striking 17.7-meter storage tower and is directly connected to the company’s test laboratory, where Nefit Bosch is developing hydrogen-powered central heating boilers. This lab is among the first users of the local hydrogen network, followed by Nefit Industrial’s foundry, where hydrogen will be mixed into gas ovens to cut fossil fuel use.
With a €5 million subsidy from the national OWE scheme, Essent Hydrogen is now preparing an electrolyzer that will produce fully renewable hydrogen. In the meantime, hydrogen is being delivered by truck from Germany, produced through electrolysis powered by wind and solar energy. By 2027–2028, Essent aims to produce hydrogen locally on-site, supported by renewable power sources including solar panels on the Nefit Bosch roof.
A decentralized and scalable approach
The partners in the GROHW project, Nefit Bosch, Nefit Industrial, Witteveen+Bos, Firan, and Essent, support a decentralized, scalable rollout of hydrogen. The plan is to start small, gain experience, and then grow. In Deventer, this means starting with two Nefit locations, but the network is intended to connect more companies later, especially those in mobility and energy-intensive industries.
The hub structure also offers economic benefits. By balancing supply and demand locally, costs for users can be lowered. As more companies join, the network's efficiency continues to improve. Additionally, the consortium looks beyond hydrogen alone: the project also investigates how to reuse the oxygen and waste heat produced during electrolysis, creating even more value for the local ecosystem.
Regional and cross-border impact
From GROHW to projects like H2EART, in collaboration with partners from the Netherlands and Germany, we are building a strong, innovative, and connected cross-border hydrogen region. By fostering collaboration between companies, knowledge institutions, and energy partners, TECH.LAND aims to accelerate the transition to a scalable, sustainable hydrogen economy.
Read more
Want to dive deeper into the GROHW initiative and hydrogen innovation? Check out these resources:
- GROWH - Project website
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Oost NL - Commercial rollout of the GROHW hydrogen consortium
- Oost NL - Nefit Bosch's new research and development center in Deventer
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Energeia - Decentralized hydrogen network in Deventer a step closer
Photo: Oost NL - GROWH