Hydrogen in the Netherlands: ‘Projects on small and large scale’

Quantum, sustainable mobility, safety. High tech is playing an increasingly important role in our daily lives. Today we interview Michiel Dorrepaal. He is involved in Holland High Tech as a program council member for the Energy Materials innovation domain. Dorrepaal is also a senior systems architect at VDL Hydrogen Systems. This company aims to produce electrolyzers that operate as efficiently as possible. According to Dorrepaal, several promising prototypes are under development in the Netherlands that can produce hydrogen efficiently.

How would you describe yourself in one word?

“Inquisitive. I used to take things apart as a child, and I still do. I am currently involved in the development of electrolyzers that produce green hydrogen as efficiently as possible. I constantly encounter new problems that I enjoy solving. If you have an inquisitive attitude, you will always find several different solutions to a problem.”

So you are a member of the Energy Materials program council. What does that innovation domain entail?

"Within this innovation domain, we focus on materials that are needed for the production, transport, and conversion of green energy. In the future, we will increasingly focus on harnessing green energy from wind, solar, and geothermal sources. When that energy is available, we want to store it for later use, such as at night or during winter. Then you want to be able to convert that energy back, for instance, into electricity. That's why this innovation domain is so important: we ensure that green energy can be used reliably and at any time."

Can you name a few specific applications and projects in the Netherlands that you are enthusiastic about?

“In the field of hydrogen, there are currently several pilot projects underway, ranging from relatively small to quite large scale. At VDL Hydrogen Systems, we are working on a 15 megawatt electrolyzer. Some parties are working on an installation of up to 100 megawatts. Ultimately, many gigawatts of hydrogen capacity will be needed, so the Netherlands would do well to scale up significantly.

In addition, a lot is happening in the field of heat storage. For example, there are methods for storing heat in aquifers: underground water basins. This is already being done in Amsterdam, where the stored heat is returned to households.

In the field of hydrogen, what is the Netherlands really good at?

“The electrodes in an electrolyzer are coated with a catalyst made from scarce materials. With thin-film technology, you can achieve the same effect with far fewer scarce materials. This is crucial for the energy transition. The Netherlands plays a strong role in this area.”

This thin-film technology is also interesting for batteries, because batteries and electrolyzers are similar in a way.“

How far along are we with the development of this thin-film technology? Is it already being used on a large scale?

”There are companies that use spark erosion to create small particles of material and place them on a substrate, allowing them to function as electrodes. In addition, TNO is investigating other techniques, such as atomic layer deposition: a technique for applying extremely thin, precise layers of material to a surface, layer by layer. These techniques already exist and are already being used in the semiconductor industry, for example. However, their application in hydrogen applications is still limited."

There are bound to be challenges in the Netherlands when it comes to hydrogen and heat storage, right?

“One major challenge we face is competing with countries where wages are relatively low. In my opinion, we have not won that competition in the field of solar energy. For example, the majority of solar panels come from China. I hope that in the future we will win that competition in the field of electrolysers and heat storage.”

How do you think we can win that competition?

“For example, by fully automating production, so that relatively little manpower is required. Or we can focus on making machines that are used to make electrolyzers, and then sell those machines to other countries.”

Zooming in on your work at VDL Hydrogen Systems: what are you most proud of so far?

“I am very proud of our prototype electrolyzer that we are currently testing. The best thing is that you work with a team on a milestone for a long time, and when you produce hydrogen for the first time, it really gives you a moment of pride.

At VDL, we had to choose between different technologies: solid oxide and alkaline electrolyzers. We have now decided to focus on one of the two, so that we can really excel in that area. Solid oxide electrolyzers operate at high temperatures, while alkaline electrolyzers operate at lower temperatures. Higher temperatures theoretically result in higher efficiency, but solid oxide still faces many challenges. That is why we have opted for the technology that is currently closer to market introduction: alkaline electrolyzers.

Do you have a message for the reader?

“If you have a problem and are looking for a solution, always try to come up with multiple options—preferably more than three. For example, there are different ways to produce hydrogen efficiently, and each system has its own challenges. We organize brainstorming sessions with the team to come up with ten to twelve possible solutions so that we can choose the best one. The most important thing is: don't put on your blinders too early.”

Listen to the episode here on Spotify.