Hydrogen could play a vital role in future renewable energy systems. This report is the result of a project carried out as part of our HyChain program. The HyChain program looks at an optimisation of a future renewable hydrogen value chain, with the Netherlands as a focal point.
This report is the result of a project within this program called HyChain2 which focusses specifically on the cost implications of importing renewable electricity, hydrogen and hydrogen carriers into the Netherlands.
To this end we developed a high-level import model to evaluate these import costs and their dependencies on the various input parameters. The model calculates the costs of importing renewable electricity, hydrogen and hydrogen carriers from virtually every country in the world to the Netherlands, using a greenfield approach and 2050 as a reference year.
This model considers three main import routes. In the first route, renewable electricity is generated and transported via high voltage direct current (HV DC) electricity cables to the Netherlands, where it can be used to run an electrolyser to produce hydrogen. In the second route an electrolyser is fed with renewably produced electricity abroad and the resulting hydrogen is transported to the Netherlands via a gas pipeline. In the third route, renewable hydrogen produced abroad is used to produce a hydrogen carrier which is transported to the Netherlands by ship, where it can be used directly or the hydrogen can be retrieved.
About HyChain
HyChain is part of our Hydrohub Innovation Program. Its mission is ‘Largescale electrolysis-based production of sustainable, low cost, hydrogen as a driver for circular industrial chains’. The HyChain research was carried out in 3 projects:
- HyChain 1 – Assessment of future trends in industrial hydrogen demand and infrastructure
- HyChain 2 – Cost implications of importing renewable electricity, hydrogen and hydrogen carriers in the Netherlands from a 2050 perspective
- HyChain 3 – Hydrogen Supply Chain – Technology Assessment