Netherlands
2025
- Type : Project
- Size : Regional
- Area : Residential
Environmental benefit
CO2 emission reduction
Green hydrogen as heat source for houses
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Netherlands
2025
- Type : Project
- Size : Regional
- Area : Residential
Environmental benefit
CO2 emission reduction
Discover this use case online
The Municipality of Goeree-Overflakkee aims to be energy-neutral in 2020 through the use of wind energy. They want to proactively move away from natural gas and to be a model location for sustainable energy solutions. Stad aan ‘t Haringvliet has been designated as a pilot location. After research, it became clear that all-electricity is difficult and inefficient and that connecting households at natural moments gives the best result in terms of sustainability. Stedin has also indicated that the natural gas grid is suitable for hydrogen and that the estimated costs of this solution are lower than an all-electric solution that involves reinforcing the electricity grid. So why not switch to hydrogen straight away?
Research by grid manager Stedin and research institute Kiwa shows that all 600 homes in Stad aan ‘t Haringvliet can be heated with green hydrogen. Stedin’s existing gas network can be used for this. The study shows that the village’s gas network can be switched to hydrogen with little cost and inconvenience to residents.
A few adjustments
Network manager Stedin must make a few adjustments to the existing gas network to make it ready for the switch to hydrogen. For example, the fifteen-kilometre-long gas network in Stad aan ‘t Haringvliet must be flushed with nitrogen in order to remove natural gas from it. In addition, the four gas district stations must be modified and some households must replace the gas meter in the meter box.
Checking gas pipes
In the houses, the gas pipes have to be checked and the traditional natural gas central heating boiler has to be replaced by a hydrogen boiler. These adjustments take half a day. The whole village can be switched to hydrogen in a few weeks.
Green hydrogen
Stad aan ‘t Haringvliet is located on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee and is surrounded by wind and solar farms. This makes the location very suitable for the production of green hydrogen. The old detached houses in the village are difficult to insulate and are therefore less suitable for low-temperature heating. Heat pumps are therefore a poor alternative.
R-ACES has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N° 892429
The Municipality of Goeree-Overflakkee aims to be energy-neutral in 2020 through the use of wind energy. They want to proactively move away from natural gas and to be a model location for sustainable energy solutions. Stad aan ‘t Haringvliet has been designated as a pilot location. After research, it became clear that all-electricity is difficult and inefficient and that connecting households at natural moments gives the best result in terms of sustainability. Stedin has also indicated that the natural gas grid is suitable for hydrogen and that the estimated costs of this solution are lower than an all-electric solution that involves reinforcing the electricity grid. So why not switch to hydrogen straight away?
Research by grid manager Stedin and research institute Kiwa shows that all 600 homes in Stad aan ‘t Haringvliet can be heated with green hydrogen. Stedin’s existing gas network can be used for this. The study shows that the village’s gas network can be switched to hydrogen with little cost and inconvenience to residents.
A few adjustments
Network manager Stedin must make a few adjustments to the existing gas network to make it ready for the switch to hydrogen. For example, the fifteen-kilometre-long gas network in Stad aan ‘t Haringvliet must be flushed with nitrogen in order to remove natural gas from it. In addition, the four gas district stations must be modified and some households must replace the gas meter in the meter box.
Checking gas pipes
In the houses, the gas pipes have to be checked and the traditional natural gas central heating boiler has to be replaced by a hydrogen boiler. These adjustments take half a day. The whole village can be switched to hydrogen in a few weeks.
Green hydrogen
Stad aan ‘t Haringvliet is located on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee and is surrounded by wind and solar farms. This makes the location very suitable for the production of green hydrogen. The old detached houses in the village are difficult to insulate and are therefore less suitable for low-temperature heating. Heat pumps are therefore a poor alternative.