Ameland tests hydrogen in practice

As the final part of the German-Dutch INTERREG project H2Watt, Ameland is currently testing the application of hydrogen in the island’s energy supply. The island will meet the energy demand of part of the built environment with a hydrogen fuel cell. The test provides insight into the flexibility of an energy system in which hydrogen is an important connecting link. The results are also interesting for the EU projects IANOS and Green Hysland.

The H2Watt project is supported within the framework of the ‘INTERREG Deutschland-Nederland’ cooperation program by resources from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the state of Lower Saxony (D) and the Dutch provinces of Drenthe, Friesland and Groningen. The aim of H2Watt is to test an application of hydrogen in practice on each of the Wadden Islands of Borkum and Ameland. A fuel cell will be in operation on Ameland between December 1, 2022 and January 11, 2023 that will follow the electricity demand of part of the village of Buren as precisely as possible. A fuel cell is an innovative technology for making electricity from hydrogen. JP-Energiesystemen made the delivery of the fuel cell possible. On December 9, a workshop took place on the island where the background and meaning of the test are explained and discussed.

Independent solar park

One of the initiators of H2Watt is Leo van der Burg of the FME trade association. “We are curious whether a fuel cell can produce electricity so flexibly that it can follow the ever-changing electricity demand of an area. If this is successful, it will be possible in the future to operate a new solar park on Ameland largely independently of the electricity grid. The production of the solar park can then largely be converted into hydrogen during the day, when demand is low; After sunset, the green electricity is still supplied to households.”

Different forms of energy

This means that the new solar park poses virtually no additional burden on the regional electricity grid, says Van der Burg. “In many places in the Netherlands there are currently restrictions on connecting solar panels, because the capacity of the local and regional networks is often insufficient. That is why the new Ameland solar park, which will be built next year, will immediately be equipped with a large battery. In the future, the production of the solar park can also be stored in hydrogen.” The advantage of hydrogen is that the stored energy is available in different forms: as heat, as electricity and as gaseous fuel. The application of hydrogen is interesting for industry, the transport sector, the maritime sector and - as demonstrated on Ameland - in the built environment.

Adjust plans

During the H2Watt workshop, attention will also be paid to regulations and licensing for the applications of hydrogen. There is little experience with this yet; many guidelines are still under development. “Something like that is inevitable in a transition period,” says Van der Burg. “It does require something from the partners in a project like this. You must be prepared to lead the way, think along with each other, take well-considered risks and, if necessary, adjust your plans. We have also done this several times within H2Watt. Yet we are very proud of the steps we can now take.”

Energy roundabout

The fuel cell that is now being tested on Ameland will be on the island until mid-January. In the meantime, there are plans to build an installation step by step near the new solar park (completed in 2023), including electrolysers, fuel cells, battery packs and a digester. This ‘Energy roundabout Ballumerbocht’ should eventually become a sustainable and fossil-free energy system with which the island can meet an increasing part of its own energy and heat demand. The intelligent control of the installation is being developed in IANOS, another European research project in which Ameland is involved.

Download the [booklet created in response to the fuel cell test] here(/uploads/pdf/Brochure-Ballummerbocht_DEF_digitaal.pdf).

Download the [technical report of the fuel cell test] here ( https://duurzaamameland.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Testrapport-en-aanadviesingen-DEF.pdf).

Download a [note on the use of hydrogen in the built environment] here(/uploads/pdf/Hydrogen-in-the-built-environment-DEF.pdf).

Watch the [short film about the significance of the fuel cell test] here( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaChCrbjshk)

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