That summarizes the panel discussion led by Alice Krekt from Deltalinqs with members from the H-vision team at the World Hydrogen Summit 2022 in Rotterdam.

The Tech Stage session kicked of with an introductory presentation by Rene Peters from TNO He described the options for industry to decarbonize and pointed out that an integrated system approach is the best route for the Netherlands, in fact for all countries. Using the outcomes from the 30+ partner science project North Sea Energy, led by TNO, René illustrated how the Netherlands can leverage its excellent starting position, with an integrated approach towards current and new value chains. Projects such as H-vision are an example to such approach, with partners from the hydrogen value chain working together. 

Feikje WITTERMANS from H-vision partner Vopak stressed that projects such as H-vision will help to kick start the roll out of the infrastructure that the future energy system demands. 

Wouter Verbeek from Berenschot counterattacked the question from Alice Krekt about remarks about a possible lock in. ‘Even when you green up your feedstock, residual gases will remain. Within a system with bio feedstock, the H-vision concept will lead to negative CO2 emissions, making it a future proof solution’, Wouter explained.

‘There is no silver bullet, we need all options and we need to start now’, panel member Marc Zwart from Shell said. ‘With the H-vision concept Shell’s Pernis refinery can reduce 25% of its CO2-emissions’, Marc explained. To start implementation the project is well on its way, although regulation of the market is still on the partners’ wish list. All options are needed. ‘Parallel development of all hydrogen variants’, Rene Peters concluded, ‘is very well duplicable for other countries as well, such as Germany’.