Industry Calls for Stable Demand and Import Support for Hydrogen Trade
On Wednesday, 20 May, a broad coalition of companies, ports and industry associations—led by NLHydrogen and VOTOB—will present the Dutch Hydrogen Trade Agenda to Minister Van Veldhoven for Climate and Green Growth.
In the agenda, the parties call for policies that ensure a stable and predictable demand for hydrogen and hydrogen carriers, as well as financial support for initial import projects and related infrastructure. According to the coalition, this is essential to maintain the Netherlands’ strong position in energy and industry in the future.
Trade in hydrogen and hydrogen carriers is important to make the energy transition affordable, reliable and geopolitically resilient. The focus is on green and renewable hydrogen and carriers, as part of a broader transition towards a climate-neutral and circular (port) industry, in which both import and local production will develop.
Several countries will be able to export hydrogen to the Netherlands on a large scale before 2030. By adopting the right policies now, the Netherlands can facilitate these imports, strengthen its position as a Northwest European energy hub, enhance strategic autonomy, and bring the climate transition within reach.
The coalition has jointly identified the concrete policy choices required to achieve this. This analysis covers four hydrogen carriers—ammonia, LOHCs (Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers), methanol, and liquid hydrogen—enabling support for at least nine concrete projects. Together, these carriers form the foundation for a future-proof hydrogen trade system.
The required policy measures are outlined in detail in the Hydrogen Trade Agenda. The coalition makes three key calls to the government:
1. Create sufficient demand for hydrogen and hydrogen carriers
Hydrogen has great potential, but investments in import infrastructure will only materialize if there is sufficient market demand. This requires clear European and national targets, offtake obligations for sustainable products, and regulation in industry, mobility, aviation and shipping, coordinated closely with neighboring countries.
2. Support the scaling up of import infrastructure with public funding
The coalition calls for approximately €400 million per year to scale up shipping, storage, and conversion infrastructure. This would enable the Netherlands to secure 48 PJ per year (400 kilotons) of hydrogen for industry and heavy transport, while achieving economies of scale across the value chain.
3. Ensure clear framework conditions and stable policy
The parties also call for accelerated development of the national hydrogen backbone, rapid implementation of European regulations, clear certification of green hydrogen, and a predictable investment and permitting environment. Stable policy is essential to enable investment decisions.
The Hydrogen Trade Agenda was developed by: Advario, Air Products, Chane, Ecolog, LBC Tank Terminals, NLHydrogen, North Sea Port, Port of Amsterdam, Port of Rotterdam, Power2X, Smart Delta Resources, VEMOBIN, VEMW, VOTOB and VTTI. The agenda is co-signed by: Deltalinqs, Evos, Exolum, North Atlantic, Shell, Silverpeak, Tepsa Netherlands, Vesta and Vopak.
