Germany and the Netherlands are deepening their cooperation on hydrogen infrastructure and market ramp-up. Today, two joint declarations of intent on cooperation in the field of hydrogen were signed by representatives of both countries’ economic affairs and climate action ministries in Duisburg as part of the Dutch King Willem-Alexander’s working visit to North Rhine-Westphalia. The two countries are seeking to harness the very favourable conditions for establishing a cross-border hydrogen ecosystem. These include the pipeline and port infrastructure already in place, the existence of geological formations that can be used to store hydrogen and the high demand for hydrogen in the industrial sector.

Dr Philipp Nimmermann, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, commented on the joint declarations by saying: “We are very pleased to be building further upon our long-standing and trusting partnership with the Netherlands. By speeding up the expansion of the hydrogen network together, we are making use of the transformative potential offered by the gas infrastructure already in place and we are strengthening investment security along the entire hydrogen value chain. This is an active contribution to an ambitious ramp-up of the hydrogen market and to the European energy transition.”

Hans Vijlbrief, State Secretary for the Extractive Industries at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, said: “We need strong government incentives to encourage investment in the production and use of hydrogen and in the new logistics chains required in this context. H2Global is a very good instrument for achieving this. This joint tender procedure showcases the strong bilateral commitment of Germany and the Netherlands to create import corridors for renewable hydrogen that connect our countries with other partners in and outside Europe.”

The ‘Joint Declaration on Further Energy Cooperation in the Field of Hydrogen Infrastructure’ (PDF, 216 KB) is an expression of the two countries’ intention to continue their efforts for a speedy and coordinated expansion of the national hydrogen infrastructure. By creating the German ‘core network’ and the Dutch hydrogen transport infrastructure, four transnational pipelines – also referred to as hydrogen interconnectors – are to be put in place and integrated into the European hydrogen network by 2032. Germany and the Netherlands are also working to create a conducive environment for cross-border private-sector hydrogen projects.

The second arrangement entitled “Joint Declaration of Intent on the Implementation of a Joint Tender under the H2Global Instrument” (PDF, 161 KB) provides for the joint import of green hydrogen. Both countries are planning to make use of the H2Global mechanism, which is already being used in Germany. The mechanism uses a foundation to channel support to companies for the production of green hydrogen abroad. This is to help meet the demand for hydrogen and contribute to the international ramp-up of green hydrogen. For this to be achieved, the Netherlands and Germany will each provide 300 million euros for conducting a joint global tender and for offering ten-year purchase agreements for the import of green hydrogen from 2027 onwards. The joint tender conducted under the H2Global instrument is a crucial first step on the path to European and international cooperation on green hydrogen. Other European countries are also invited to make use of the H2Global instrument to open up individual import opportunities.