H2Hollandia Hydrogen Project in Nieuw-Buinen

Excess solar energy is converted into green hydrogen

Projects H2Hollandia Hydrogen Project

The_{H2 Hollandia} project is an ambitious initiative: the production of green hydrogen by utilizing locally generated solar power. To this end, an electrolysis system with a capacity of no less than 5 megawatts is currently under development.
This system is being built in Nieuw-Buinen, Drenthe, and will be completed by the end of 2024. Currently, the capacity of the largest green hydrogen production site in the Netherlands is 1.3 MW._H2 Hollandia will therefore deliver more than three times (!) the production capacity.

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300,000Solar panels

300,000kg of hydrogen per year

H2Hollandia Hydrogen Project

The project is being developed in collaboration with engineering firm Avitec and green energy systems developer Novar; together, they form H2 Hollandia B.V. Nieuw-Buinen is already home to a large-scale solar farm with no fewer than 300,000 installed solar panels. At certain times, the solar farm produces more green electricity than the power grid can handle. This surplus of renewable energy can, of course, be put to better use. That is why the idea arose to convert this electricity into green hydrogen. By producing hydrogen, we can still use the energy effectively at a later time.

Repowered set up the project and business case management, provided technical support, and developed the initial concept. Novar is currently developing the H2Hollandia hydrogen system. The project is expected to be completed in Q4 of 2024.

Why a hydrogen system?

Hydrogen has a very high potential energy content—for example, three times more per kilogram than diesel. This makes it an attractive energy carrier. Partly for this reason, the decision was made to use a portion of the solar energy generated at the adjacent Vloeivelden Hollandia solar park to produce 100% green hydrogen.
Because of the direct connection to the solar park, there is no strain on the power grid. In addition, the hydrogen system ensures that no energy is lost. If the solar park generates too much energy on a sunny day, this excess power—which cannot be fed into the grid—can be used to convert the surplus electricity into hydrogen.

How does hydrogen work?

Hydrogen is not a source of energy, but an energy carrier. An energy source produces more energy than we put into it, such as the sun. An energy carrier uses an energy source to store energy in a different form so that it can be used elsewhere (at a later time). The latter is therefore the case with hydrogen gas. You can then use the hydrogen for numerous other purposes, such as powering trucks or for industrial processes.

How is hydrogen produced?

Hydrogen can be produced in three ways. The production method results in gray, blue, or green hydrogen.
Gray hydrogen is produced through Steam Methane Reforming (SMR). This is the most common production process. In this process, natural gas is used to split methane into hydrogen and CO2.
The production process for blue hydrogen is the same as for gray hydrogen, except that the CO2 produced is captured and stored so that it does not enter the atmosphere.
Hydrogen production without CO2 emissions results in green hydrogen. Through a process called “electrolysis,” water molecules are split into hydrogen and oxygen.

Green hydrogen by H2Hollandia
H2Hollandia produces green hydrogen that is stored in cylinders. The hydrogen can then be delivered directly to various customers, such as companies in the transportation sector or public transit. In addition to producing hydrogen, this production process also yields pure oxygen. This oxygen can, in turn, be used for aeration in water treatment plants.

Our Process

Where are we now?

Design

Permit

Funding

Construction

In use

The permits have been secured. Currently, the purchase and sales contracts are being drafted, along with a request for proposals for the construction team that will build the facility.
The system is expected to begin operations in Q4 2024.

About this project

Development Grant and DEI+ Grant
The permit to build the hydrogen system has been granted. Due to the costly technology and current high electricity prices, it is difficult to carry out this project without a grant. Therefore, a grant is needed to make H2Hollandia financially viable.
Currently, two grants have been awarded. First, the Province of Drenthe is supporting the project with a development grant. This will partially finance the project’s development phase. Furthermore, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) has awarded an investment grant to this project. This is the Energy and Climate Innovation Demonstration (DEI+) grant, which focuses on innovations in the fields of hydrogen and green chemistry.

Next Steps for the Development of
We are currently in the contractual phase. We are in contact with various parties regarding the sale of green hydrogen, and a tender has been issued inviting different parties to submit proposals for implementing the system.
Once the appropriate contracts have been signed, Novar can begin construction. This is not a time-intensive process, but we are dependent on the delivery times for the various components. These can sometimes take a very long time.

How does this project contribute to the energy transition?
By installing the 5 MW electrolyzer at the 115 MWp Hollandia Vloeivelden solar park, this project will produce approximately 300,000 kg of hydrogen per year. This will help prevent curtailment (shutting down the park when the power grid cannot absorb the electricity).
Currently, gray hydrogen accounts for four percent of total global energy consumption. So there is already a market for hydrogen, but at present, gray hydrogen is the primary type in use. As explained earlier,_CO2 is released during its production, which contributes to the climate crisis.

By producing green hydrogen with H2Hollandia , we are reducing_CO2 emissions and helping to solve the climate crisis. With the Hollandia project, we are taking an important step toward sustainable energy production and promoting the transition to green hydrogen. The project demonstrates the potential of green hydrogen as a promising energy source for the future.

Last edited on September 16, 2025