‘Wind and sun are our gold’

Petra ’t Hoen is the Councilor (wethouder) for sustainability, among other portfolios, in Goeree-Overflakkee and has been nominated as 'Hydrogen Councilor of the Year'. “But actually, it is a nomination for all the people here who work together on innovative energy projects. I have been a councilor for a year now and am building on what my predecessors, such as Jaap Willem Eijkenduijn, have already achieved. Even more importantly: the power brought by the residents. Thirty-six years ago, the first wind turbine was installed here on the initiative of residents. Today, more than sixty turbines dot the horizon, partly owned by those same residents. Their energy is infectious.”

More power

Those wind turbines, solar panels on houses, and the three solar parks on Goeree-Overflakkee produce a significant amount of electricity—more than the residents use. “It is our gold. We wanted to do something with it, especially now that grid congestion sometimes prevents electricity from being fed into the grid. We want to save that sustainable, green electricity for the moments when it is needed. We are going to do that, among other things, by converting it into hydrogen.”

The Future

“One way or another, we have to move away from fossil energy sources,” she continues. “As a politician, I contribute to solutions for the future from which my children and grandchildren will reap the benefits. Yes, there is some hesitation regarding hydrogen due to the price and its innovative nature. But I am convinced it is a wonderful tool for the energy transition.”

Stad Aardgasvrij (Natural Gas-Free Stad)

’t Hoen has successfully conveyed this conviction to the Ministries of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, and Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. In December, they pledged €6 million to the Stad Aardgasvrij project; a demonstration project in the village of Stad aan ’t Haringvliet where homes are completely transitioning to hydrogen and hybrid heat pumps. “That sounds very nice now, but the road to obtaining that subsidy was long,” the councilor recalls. “Several times, after meetings, we returned home empty-handed and with critical questions. That’s okay; innovative plans like these simply get off the ground step by step. It’s a matter of picking ourselves up and moving forward with new energy and ideas. The fact that we are now going to run an actual pilot is absolutely fantastic.”

The 'Tafelaars' (Table Partners)

The plans for Stad Aardgasvrij began in 2017. “The municipality, partners like Stedin, housing association Oost West Wonen, Deltawind, and residents sat down together to go over the plans. We established eight promises that the project had to meet. These are: safe or not at all, always warm, affordable, sufficient public support, green, legally and technically feasible, and scalable—meaning we share the knowledge and it may be possible to scale up or repeat the project in other locations. We call that original group of residents the ‘Tafelaars’ (Table-sitters); these are the people who initiated the Stad Aardgasvrij project themselves. It’s a name that fits the project well, because we truly sit at the table with the residents.”

Door-to-door

Joining residents at the table is a vital part of realizing the plans. The councilor explains: “In 2023, we conducted a survey where representatives went door-to-door to discuss doubts and concerns and to map out what a switch to green hydrogen meant for people personally. Sometime later, we conducted a support survey, which showed that 77.6% of residents were in favor of Stad Aardgasvrij. Important to note: non-voters were counted as a ‘no’.”

Promises

The support was there, but how could the partners deliver on all the promises? ’t Hoen: “Advisor Noé van Hulst and quartermaster Bert den Ouden helped us on our way. We found a German piping system for storing hydrogen and eventually a multi-fuel boiler for households that runs on hydrogen and biogas in various mixing ratios. The fact that the boiler works on different fuels offers guarantees to users; we don’t want our residents to be left in the cold. The boiler is currently still in development, but we are hopeful that we will soon be able to heat part of the village with it as the first step of the project.”

A broader vision

Stad Aardgasvrij is unique, but certainly not the only innovative project on Goeree-Overflakkee. “It is part of a broader vision,” the councilor emphasizes. “We want to become an energy hub, and that manifests in various projects. For example, we are working on 'Power-to-Heat', investigating how we can convert locally generated sustainable electricity—from wind or sun, for instance—into heat for homes. Additionally, 'InnovaHub' in Stad aan ’t Haringvliet already provides energy in the form of electricity, heating, and cooling for seventeen homes in a sustainable way without emissions. There is also a Greenpoint hydrogen refueling station in Oude-Tonge. But it doesn’t stop there. For instance, one of the largest bulb growers is working on making their business sustainable, including the use of green hydrogen as an energy carrier.”

Telling the story

All these developments have not gone unnoticed and led to the nomination for Hydrogen Councilor of the Year. ’t Hoen: “I primarily want to use this nomination to show what we are working on here together, with our energy partners—Coöperatie Deltawind, Housing Association Oost West Wonen, Stedin, Netverder, the Province of South Holland, and the Hollandse Delta Water Board—as well as with the residents and entrepreneurs. I want to share our story nationally because it deserves a stage. I am proud of the collaboration, the pioneering spirit, the perseverance, and the energy and strength that this island possesses.”