The cabinet is betting on hydrogen as a fuel for trucks and other heavy traffic. It is coming up with a subsidy scheme for hydrogen filling stations and trucks, among others, which should increase the embrace. EUR 22 million is initially available for the scheme.
State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen of Infrastructure and Water Management writes this to the Lower House. Heijnen: "I really like hydrogen as a clean fuel for trucks in particular. Heavy traffic can cover many kilometres on hydrogen, without exhaust fumes. Our transport sector is ambitious and so am I, together we can make pace".
Impulse
The subsidy scheme should boost hydrogen as a fuel for road transport. The State Secretary is committed to a combination of technologies for driving without emissions. This includes battery-powered electric driving, but also hydrogen. The Dutch plans are in line with European regulations. These require more hydrogen to be used in both industry and transport. Throughout the EU, hydrogen filling stations must be installed along motorways every 100 to 150 kilometres and at major urban hubs.
The Netherlands currently has fourteen hydrogen filling stations. Not all of these are equipped for heavy trucks. According to the state secretary, the shortage of hydrogen filling stations is a barrier to investing in hydrogen trucks. However, because there are few hydrogen trucks on Dutch roads, opening a hydrogen filling station is not attractive either. Heijnen speaks of a "chicken-and-egg problem".
With the help of the subsidy scheme, the state secretary wants to break the deadlock. According to Heijnen, the subsidy is necessary as hydrogen trucks or buses are considerably more expensive to buy that diesel-powered variants.
Realisation of filling station in combination with purchase of trucks
The subsidy scheme is expected to be available in early 2024. The subsidy is aimed at plans that combine the realisation of a hydrogen filling station with the purchase of the corresponding trucks. On average, around 20 to 25 hydrogen trucks are involved per refuelling station. Parties may enter into collaborations for meeting the requirements of the scheme.
The 22 million euros made available by Heijnen for the subsidy scheme is estimated to be good for the realisation of hydrogen filling stations and purchase of trucks at five to 10 locations in the Netherlands. The exact number depends on the exact project proposals submitted by parties. Heijen acknowledges that this is a good start, but more is needed to get the embrace of hydrogen off the ground on a large scale. The state secretary will therefore explore in the coming period how more budget can be released.
Scale up quickly'.
Transport and Logistics Netherlands board chair Elisabeth Post: "It is important and good that investments are being made in the infrastructure of zero-emission vehicles," says Transport and Logistics Netherlands board chair Elisabeth Post. "That applies not only to battery-electric vehicles, but certainly also to hydrogen-electric ones. So it is good that IenW is helping to take important steps in this. In the coming years, the challenge is to further scale up quickly."
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Photo: akitada31 via Pixabay
