Three pillars
HEROW is based on three pillars:
- Knowledge sharing: It is a network where knowledge about offshore hydrogen production is shared. Developers of pilots share experiences and results, and knowledge programs come up with new ideas and concepts. Knowledge from international initiatives is also shared with the aim of accelerating scale-up.
- Innovation challenges: The entire chain of stakeholders is involved in this network through innovation challenges to solve specific issues. Startups and knowledge developers are challenged to come up with new innovations to address the industry's challenges.
- Knowledge dissemination: Through the development of educational materials and trainings, HEROW ensures the spread of knowledge. This includes the "Teach the teacher" principle, where educational institutions receive free teaching materials and teachers are trained on how to use them. This pillar aims to ensure the right knowledge and the required workforce to realize the Dutch ambitions for offshore hydrogen.
Role of hydrogen in the energy transition
Hydrogen is seen as a crucial component in the sustainable energy system of the future. Green hydrogen, produced through sustainable energy sources, is an important clean energy carrier for decarbonizing industries, shipping, and heavy transport. Electrification is often not suitable for processes such as refining, steel production, or maritime vessels, as the required temperatures are not achievable and batteries make ships too heavy to float. Hydrogen is also necessary as a raw material in the chemical industry. Hydrogen production at sea, near renewable energy sources like wind farms, will play a significant role in the energy mix.
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