Green hydrogen research and development (R&D) projects have been included in the Netherlands’ final, EU-approved €661m ($769m) Covid recovery package.
The cash, approved under the NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), follows the country submitting its final payment request on 2 July and will bring its total received from the fund to €3.73bn ($4.34bn).
The European Commission’s positive assessment of the request allows innovation- and education-focused initiatives advancing the adoption of green hydrogen to be eligible for a piece of the funding.
It remains unclear exactly how much of the payment could reach green hydrogen R&D, as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and tax reforms are also entitled to funds.
With the RRF set to close at the end of the year, it will be the Netherlands’ final boost from the mechanism.
The EU also recently signed off three significant Dutch state aid schemes: a $780m ($908m) initiative supporting up to 400MW of electrolysis, a €290m ($338m) hydrogen-based sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) scheme, and a €103 (€120m) clean maritime fuels investment.
Netherlands is positioned as a leader in hydrogen R&D in Europe, particularly as the host of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research’s (TNO) Faraday Laboratory, a facility with a core focus on electrolyser technologies.
A strong network of universities, technology suppliers, and industrial users gives the country an important role within the EU’s wider push to achieve and retain technological leadership in hydrogen.
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