Both the European Union and the Netherlands have recently announced their ambitions on the production and consumption of (renewable) hydrogen. A significant increase in hydrogen production and consumption in the Netherlands will require the development of large-scale hydrogen infrastructure such as hydrogen transport and storage. This chapter examines the development of such infrastructure in the Netherlands. First, it briefly discusses plans of group companies of N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie’s (Gasunie), the operator of the Dutch nationwide natural gas network, and of other natural gas infrastructure in the Netherlands and northern Germany, for the development and operation of hydrogen transport, storage and import infrastructure. Second, it explores the current Dutch legal framework regulating these hydrogen activities. Third, it offers a first appraisal of the European proposals on third-party access to hydrogen infrastructure as well as of their proposals for exempting new hydrogen infrastructure. Together, this provides the reader with a brief overview of the current Dutch legal framework for hydrogen activities, the potential future EU legal framework for access to hydrogen infrastructure in the Netherlands and the resulting challenges for developing such infrastructure.

Hydrogen could help transition the global energy system to a low-carbon future by providing an energy-dense, carbon-free fuel suitable for a wide range of applications. Hydrogen is already used extensively by industry; however, the current supply chain is relatively simple and relies heavily on fossil fuels, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions. The value chain for a future hydrogen economy will be more complex and require different technologies to be further developed and scaled up, including low-emission hydrogen production, large-scale storage and transport, and new energy and industry applications. Hydrogen produced with zero carbon emissions has the potential to be a major new globally traded commodity, which could enable countries with limited renewable energy potential to decarbonise their economies, diversify the global energy supply, and increase energy security. The emergence of the hydrogen economy faces economic, social acceptance and regulatory challenges. Governments around the world have a role to play in providing policies to address potential market failures, socialising the widespread use of hydrogen and establishing international governance and regulations.