Insights and Positions

The Netherlands has an opportunity to become Northwest Europe’s hub for international hydrogen trade. Alongside domestic production, imports of hydrogen and hydrogen carriers such as renewable methanol will be essential to decarbonize aviation, shipping and industry while strengthening Europe’s energy security.

The ‘Waterstofhandelsagenda’ covers the four key hydrogen carriers: ammonia, liquid hydrogen, LOHCs and methanol and raises three key asks to the government: provide long term demand certainty for hydrogen and its carriers through 2040, support the scale up of import infrastructure with public financing, and resolve the enabling conditions, from grid congestion and permitting to certification and public acceptance. Power2X supports all three recommendations to strengthen hydrogen imports. At the same time, imports should complement, not replace, domestic production. Europe will require both competitive imports and local production to create a sufficiently large, resilient and liquid market. Above all, the market requires long-term policy stability. Consistent regulatory signals are needed to give producers, investors and offtakers the confidence to reach Final Investment Decision and conclude long-term commercial agreements. Mandates alone do not create a market; investment certainty and bankable demand do. 

Power2X contributed to the ‘Waterstofhandelsagenda’, bringing the perspective of renewable methanol and e-fuels.