- 1 MW solid oxide electrolyzer commissioned in February 2026 at Rainbow Colors nursery in the Netherlands.
- Integrated with on-site solar and BESS to enable near continuous green hydrogen production.
- Target hydrogen production cost below €10 per kg for agricultural and local energy applications.
Dutch tulip nursery Rainbow Colors has become the first agricultural company globally to install a 1 MW solid oxide electrolyzer for on-site green hydrogen production. The system was commissioned in February 2026 at its facility in Andijk, North Holland, marking a significant milestone for hydrogen deployment in the agri sector.
The installation was developed by Danish technology provider Dynelectro in partnership with Dutch infrastructure specialist Ekinetix. The project demonstrates how high temperature electrolysis can be integrated directly into agricultural operations to support decarbonisation and energy resilience.
The 1 MW solid oxide electrolyzer operates at temperatures of approximately 750°C. At these elevated temperatures, the system can achieve energy conversion efficiencies of up to 90% when residual heat is recovered and reused. This high efficiency profile positions solid oxide electrolysis as a potentially attractive solution for energy intensive agricultural processes.
At Rainbow Colors, the electrolyzer is integrated with an on-site solar plant and a battery energy storage system. This configuration enables near continuous hydrogen production using surplus renewable electricity, maximising self-consumption and reducing curtailment. The hydrogen produced is intended for local applications including heavy machinery, transport and greenhouse heating.
The project aims to deliver hydrogen at a production cost below €10 per kg, supporting the development of competitive green hydrogen solutions for distributed agricultural use.
The installation also serves as a pilot site for the Fieldlab Waterstof in de Agri initiative, which is working to establish a hydrogen network for the agricultural sector in the North Holland North region. By demonstrating on farm production and utilisation, the project is expected to provide valuable operational data and a scalable model for wider roll out across Europe’s farming industry.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
