Project X Groningen
Etta Lesniak
A consortium of Gasunie, Groningen Seaports and Shell Nederland announces today that they intend to launch the NortH2 project: the production of green hydrogen using renewable electricity generated by a mega offshore wind farm, 3 to 4 gigawatts in 2030, contributing to the objectives of the Dutch Climate Accord. Additionally, it has the ambition to grow to about 10 gigawatts around 2040. Green hydrogen production, initially in the Eemshaven and later possibly also offshore, is expected to be around 800,000 tonnes per year by 2040. This would avoid about seven megatonnes of CO2 per year. NortH2 has the support of the province of Groningen and is looking for partners to expand the consortium and realise this project.
First of all, NortH2 envisages the construction of very significant wind farms in the North Sea, which can gradually grow to a capacity of about 10 gigawatts. This would be sufficient to meet the current electricity consumption of some 12.5 million Dutch households. Many wind turbines will need to be installed to enable this. The first ones could be ready in 2027 and will be used for green hydrogen production.
In addition, the plan provides for a large electrolyser in the Eemshaven, where wind energy is converted into green hydrogen. The consortium is also considering the possibilty of placing electrolysers offshore.
The project is expected to start this year with the kick-off of a feasibility study. If the outcome is successful, the consortium hopes to produce the first hydrogen by 2027. This depends, among other things, on permits from governments, the assignment of new wind farm locations in the North Sea, the available locations for the hydrogen facility/facilities and the final investment decisions of the parties concerned. The realisation therefore partly depends on the contributions of various industrial and energy partners. NortH2's partners anticipate that the initial project phases may potentially require European and national subsidies available for the decarbonisation of energy.
Because there are fluctuations in solar and wind energy, it is important to convert them into other energy carriers, such as hydrogen. Using the latest technologies, hydrogen is relatively easy and safe to produce, and can be stored easily, unlike electricity.
The north of the Netherlands is well-positioned to become the centre of green hydrogen in the Netherlands and Northwest Europe. The North Sea has a great potential for large-scale wind energy, the Eemshaven is an important link between offshore wind energy and the production of green hydrogen onshore. Natural gas infrastructure is suitable for storage and large-scale transport of hydrogen from the northern Netherlands to the rest of the Netherlands and Northwest Europe.
This announcement is the start of the further development of the multi-partner project to form a broad coalition necessary for making a success of this large-scale project. It is also the beginning of the feasibility study as well as discussions with the relevant European, national, regional and local authorities on the regulatory and policy frameworks, enabling stable and positive investment decisions.
Having a place to call home is a fundamental human right, but every year hundred thousands of people are evicted from their home. They lose their home involuntary. The EVICT project analyses all kinds of eviction cases, and aims to see whether the international right to housing helps people that face an eviction.
National governments and courts need to comply with international human rights law, such as the right to housing. Yet, we know that they often do not comply with international law. The right to housing, as laid down in international and European law, often demands more protection of the power- and propertyless than national laws prescribe.
We combine traditional legal methods with data science techniques, such as network analysis and machine learning to conceptualise the right to housing and to find and explain predictors for court decisions.
The renovated clusters, the two Underground Gas Storage Peak Shaving facilities and transfer stations will be fully integrated and automatically controlled from one remote control room in Sappemeer. For this project, NAM prepared the Basis for Design and organized a Design Competition for which three
Consortia were selected. After a design competition of 6 months the Stork GLT Consortium was selected on the basis of the project and maintenance execution plan, the overall quality of the process design and the lowest Total Cost of Ownership. The Stork GLT Consortium consists of Stork (Construction and Maintenance Contractor), Jacobs (Engineering Contractor), Siemens (supply of the 23MW Variable Speed Drive Systems), Yokogawa (supply of DCS and Safeguarding Systems), and Siemens Demag Delaval (supply of the centrifugal compressors with magnetic bearings), jointly responsible for the integrated project execution: design, procurement, construction and 25 years of maintenance.
13 gas production Clusters are renovated and operational; 16 Clusters are still to be done. Construction on three Clusters is well underway. Design activities for the next two Clusters and the next Standard Size Clusters with Satellites, are proceeding as planned.
For business automation purposes an Information Management System has been implemented to control and maintain all relevant data during the 25 year contract period. This system enables achievement of the highest repeatability benefits during the long term project. Stork GLT has established a joint office with the NAM project team in Sappemeer. The advantage of this project setup is the close relation between the consortium partners and the client. T
For the first time ever, EBF is initiating the International Development Project 2023-2024! This project will focus on conducting research in a foreign country for a period of two weeks, followed by two weeks of traveling across the country on your own terms! The destination of this pilot will be the beautiful country of South Africa. For this trip, a group of 15 highly motivated CV-selected FEB students, 1 professor, 1 board member, and 6 committee members will travel to South Africa to conduct research on sustainable development and to explore the country in May 2024 (2nd of May - 31st of May).
To prepare you for the journey, you will attend a course (5 ECTS) dedicated to this project to fully equip you with the skills necessary to conduct your research in smaller groups during block 2.1. During the two weeks of research in Stellenbosch, you will collaborate with local students from the Small Business Academy of Stellenbosch University in focus groups. Moreover, you will visit the HIV/AIDS Centre and the Sustainability Centre to gain all information necessary for contextualizing the research. You will complete the course with a final presentation of your research by the end of the second research week. This means you will not have to worry about course deadlines during your two weeks of free traveling. More information on this course can be found on Ocasys via:
Your IDP adventure begins on Monday the 2nd of February 2024. There will be weekly mandatory course lectures for 7 weeks followed by dinners and socials every Monday, until we depart for South Africa. After we return to the Netherlands, we will finalize the entire project during a celebratory closing dinner in Groningen.
In sum, the International Development Project offers you the unique opportunity to gain experience in conducting international research, earn 5 ECTS, boost your CV, develop your skills and make many new friendships!
For next year's edition, the EBF will be recruiting a new International Development Project Committee! Are you ready for a new adventure? Are you eager to work on a big research project, taking place in Stellenbosch, South Africa? Together with five other committee members, you will be in charge of the organisation, recruitment of participants and the programme for the first two weeks in Stellenbosch. After these first two weeks of conducting research, you and your committee members as well as all participants get the chance to travel by themselves. Are you ready to develop your skills, work closely together with five other committee members, and have the experience of a lifetime? Then you should apply for the International Development Project Committee! After applying for the committee, by sending your letter of interest and motivation together with your CV, you will get a short case on Friday at 17:00 with a deadline on Sunday at 23:59.
We, as a committee, are working really hard on getting funds from companies and subsidies but are also reliable on voluntary donations. In order for our students to be able to conduct their research in Stellenbosch, they need to raise money themselves as well. And that is where you might come in! We would therefore highly appreciate the gesture of a donation, big or small, in order for us to continue with the research project. All the money donated will be used only for the research part of the project.
To prepare you for the journey, you will attend the course Social Empirical Research in Emerging Countries (5 ECTS) dedicated to this project. The lectures of the course will take place in block 2.1 with weekly lectures from 17:00-19:00. During the first two weeks of research in South Africa you will finalize your report for this course, as well as present the findings in a colloquium to Stellenbosch stakeholders and local students. During this course you will also be conducting interviews, participate in focus groups, and have discussions with local social entrepreneurs to ensure that you are properly prepared for South Africa.
In block 2.1 there will be a lecture (5-7pm), dinner (7-9pm) and a social (9pm onwards) every Monday, which you will be expected to attend. The dinners and socials are a great way to get to know everyone. Next to these activities, you are expected to actually prepare your specific research together with your subgroup, which will mostly be done during the preparatory phase of the trip. In total, IDP will cost you about 5-10 hours per week.
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