H2ignite Partners Strengthen Cross‑Border Hydrogen Collaboration in Drenthe and Lingen

Hosted by the Province of Drenthe, the meeting showcased innovative hydrogen applications across the northern Netherlands before concluding at the Hydrogen Cross-Border Conference in Germany. Together, the visits highlighted a rapidly maturing hydrogen value chain and strengthened cooperation between regional, national, and cross-border partners.

• Assen & Northern Netherlands: Showcasing a Hydrogen Ecosystem in Motion

The programme began with extensive field visits across the Province of Drenthe and the wider Groningen region. In Eemshaven, partners were introduced to one of the Netherlands’ most important renewable energy hubs, where large-scale offshore wind infrastructure supplies clean electricity increasingly destined for green hydrogen production. With new electrolyser capacity under construction, Eemshaven is emerging as a central pillar for future hydrogen supply.

The visit continued at the OV‑Bureau Groningen–Drenthe, where the partners examined the region’s deployment of 30 hydrogen-powered buses. Grid congestion has made full fleet electrification impractical, but hydrogen offers an immediate low-emission solution. Subsidies currently keep hydrogen at around seven euros per kilogram, enabling operators to provide emission‑free mobility.

At Groningen Airport Eelde, the group learned about the airport’s ambition to become one of Europe’s first hydrogen-enabled aviation hubs. The airport is testing hydrogen-powered aircraft while operating one of the world’s largest airside solar parks, which feeds green electricity to the site and the grid. These developments reflect the airport’s long-term strategy to decarbonise not just operations on the ground, but regional short-haul aviation as well.

The day concluded at Resato Hydrogen Technology, a leading manufacturer of hydrogen refuelling stations. Partners toured the company’s production facility and observed multiple station types in various stages of assembly. As hydrogen mobility expands across the region, Resato’s infrastructure solutions will play a crucial role in enabling broader uptake among public transport operators, logistics companies, and industrial users.

• Drenthe Region: Innovations in Clean Mobility and Industrial Transformation

The second day began at WellGear, a company specialising in decommissioning former oil and gas sites. Operating within Natura 2000 protected areas requires strict compliance with emission regulations, and WellGear has adopted hydrogen-powered trucks to eliminate nitrogen oxide emissions during dismantling activities. The partners observed how these mobile hydrogen units allow WellGear to remove production pipes and seal boreholes in an environmentally safe and future‑oriented manner.

Between site visits, internal project workshops provided an important opportunity to align partners’ activities. WP3 organised a session focused on shaping the Cross-Sector Forum, with partners recommending broader political engagement, including potential involvement from Danish representatives. WP1 then guided discussions on regulatory developments related to RFNBO and GHG‑quota regulations, as well as available funding for hydrogen trucks and refuelling infrastructure.

In the afternoon, partners visited Green Planet, an innovative refuelling hub offering a comprehensive range of sustainable fuels, including hydrogen. The facility represents a forward-looking model for multi-energy mobility centres that can respond flexibly to evolving transportation needs.

Our partners then travelled to H2Hollandia, one of the Netherlands’ largest solar parks and the future home of a 5 MW electrolyser forming the core of Drenthe’s H2ignite pilot activities. Avitec, responsible for constructing the electrolyser, is also developing a hydrogen refuelling station powered directly by the site’s own hydrogen production, closing the loop between generation, storage, and end use.

The final stop of the day took partners to GETEC Emmen, a major industrial energy provider within one of the region’s key chemical clusters. The facility is connected to the regional hydrogen backbone, positioning it as an important contributor to the decarbonisation of industrial processes and the transition toward cleaner energy carriers.

The fourth H2ignite partner meeting showed how much our partners have already achieved and how important cooperation will remain in the years ahead. The consortium warmly thanks the Province of Drenthe for hosting the meeting and for creating an open, welcoming atmosphere that made the visit inspiring, productive and enjoyable.