Four of Seven Dutch Green Hydrogen Projects Have Been Cancelled. The Subsidies Keep Coming.
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
The Dutch government granted €783.5 million in 2022 to fund seven green‑hydrogen projects expected to supply 1,150 MW of electrolysis capacity. Four years later, four of those projects – representing 550 MW – have been cancelled and none is operating. Only about €150 million of the subsidy pool has been paid out, while the remaining funds await a new round of support. Parliamentary answers acknowledge that without dedicated subsidies the sector cannot achieve commercial viability, yet another €780 million is earmarked for future grants. Revised demand forecasts and higher production costs have forced the government to scale back hydrogen’s role in heat and power, while still pursuing pipeline construction and mandatory off‑take obligations for industrial users. The Audit warned that pipeline investment could swell to €3.8 billion, jeopardizing financing.
💡 Why It Matters
- · Persisting subsidies lock public money into a stalled industry while inflating the cost base of a hydrogen pipeline that may never find enough buyers.