Waterstof Werkt!

On 4 November, the ‘Hydrogen Works’ event took place at the ECI Cultuurfabriek. With over 80 attendees from the business community, the education sector and the public sector, it was a well-attended event centred on knowledge-sharing, practical examples and networking.

The day was opened by three inspiring speakers who introduced the participants to various aspects of the hydrogen economy. Led by moderator Jorg Gogler, the event sparked fascinating discussions and provided valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges of the hydrogen transition. Prof. Ad van Wijk (Delft University of Technology) painted an inspiring picture of the future role of hydrogen within our energy system. His presentation provided insight into the opportunities hydrogen offers for a sustainable and reliable energy supply and encouraged reflection on the steps needed to realise this future.

André Boer (HiDelta) then demonstrated how the development of the Sliedrecht Multicommodity Hub is taking shape in practice. Using specific examples, he took the audience through the process of collaboration between businesses, public authorities and research institutions, as well as the challenges and opportunities involved in the construction of energy infrastructure.

The third keynote speech was delivered by Gerbert Vissers, CEO of Vissers Energy. He shared his practical experiences with hydrogen, including the development of hydrogen refuelling stations, the hydrogen-related initiatives in Tegelen and the SWIM grant scheme. His talk provided a realistic picture of the opportunities, challenges and lessons that entrepreneurs face when implementing hydrogen solutions.

The presentations were followed by an interactive panel discussion, during which there was ample opportunity for questions and discussion from the audience. During the networking lunch that followed, participants were able to continue their discussions about the opportunities that hydrogen offers for their organisations and sectors.

Three in-depth sessions were on the programme for the afternoon:

• Hydrogen in industry: Jaco Reijerkerk and Tess van Eeden (Ekinetix)
• Hydrogen as a fuel for logistics and mobility: Jan-Willem Tolkamp (LIOF), Dick van Aggel (Medi Cura) and Pleun van der Kooij (FIER)
• Hydrogen technology for SMEs in practice: Maarten Ruijtenberg (Hermanos Energy), Karin Perdaems (Stichting Lelystadse Boer) and Marcel Vogelsangs (MV Energietechniek).

These sessions gave participants the opportunity to explore the technical, economic and organisational aspects of hydrogen applications in greater depth.

Throughout the day, there was also an information fair where various organisations and companies active in the hydrogen sector presented their innovations, products and practical experiences. This offered visitors an accessible opportunity to learn about current developments and explore new partnerships. Thank you to Voyex, Hermanos Energy, HyER Power, Oost NL / H2B, Power to Power, UFS H2-Sensing and WaterstofNet / Hy-Infra for joining us!

With a strong turnout, inspiring contributions from speakers, a valuable exchange of knowledge and many fruitful discussions, we can look back on a highly successful edition of Waterstof Werkt. The day demonstrated that hydrogen is no longer a technology of the future, but a development that is already in full swing today and is finding an increasing number of practical applications in industry, mobility and the SME sector. Thanks to the active involvement of participants, speakers and partners, it was a successful event that yielded a wealth of new insights and connections.