Hydrogen is a combustible gas that can be used as a sustainable alternative to natural gas. Cogas, Technology Base and the Twente Safety Campus see a unique opportunity to contribute to the further development and deployment of hydrogen. Technology Base is a controlled environment, with sufficient space to safely gain initial experience with hydrogen. Cogas has the desire to realise a pilot network for hydrogen, Technology Base operates a large site with various testing possibilities and also faces the challenge of heating aircraft hangars, the Twente Safety Campus, as a safety centre, contributes to investigating safety issues. Together, we see an opportunity to realise a unique location for hydrogen, based on its own needs and to contribute to national issues and the energy transition. 

Cooperation with other parties

If there are other parties that want to join this cooperation, we are certainly open to this. Together, we can contribute to the national knowledge base on hydrogen and work towards the reliable and safe deployment of hydrogen.

Cogas

General director Gerald de Haan of Cogas: ‘We expect hydrogen to play a major role in the energy transition. To be able to deploy hydrogen safely and reliably in the future, we want to gain knowledge and experience now. We are doing this by constructing a pilot network at Technology Base; we are laying pipelines to which we feed hydrogen. A follow-up step may be to feed hydrogen into the existing gas network at Technology Base. This is a unique location where we can work with hydrogen in a controlled environment. In cooperation with the Twente Safety Campus, we are working on safety issues around hydrogen. We are also seeking cooperation and coordination with existing initiatives such as the Hydrogen Hub Twente and Hydelta.’ 

Technology Base

The Technology Base site is over 220 hectares, fully fenced off and only accessible through the controlled access gate. Jan Schuring, Technology Base director: ‘Technology Base is contributing to the energy transition by linking together with Cogas and Twente Safety Campus various companies and initiatives to share knowledge and join forces. Within our profile, there is room for special application possibilities, such as integrating a closed and self-sufficient energy system. In addition to concrete sustainability projects, the possibilities of using (green) hydrogen gas are therefore being explored.’

Hydrogen gas can also be used as an energy carrier and can be used to heat spaces on the site that are not (easily) suitable for all-electric heating, such as the large spaces in hangars. 

Twente Safety Campus

‘In this cooperation, Twente Safety Campus brings its expertise on (fire) safety,’ responds David Bornebroek, director of Twente Safety Campus. ‘We also already have a lot of experience and knowledge in facilitating safety tests. On Tuesday, we took a nice first step for this research site by signing a letter of intent.  Together, we are making a concrete contribution to solving hydrogen safety issues. In doing so, we contribute to the safety of our residents and emergency workers.’