De wetterstofynfrastruktuer dy't noch net bestiet
June 26, 2026 · Frisian News
The EU is funding hydrogen projects across Europe, but the infrastructure to transport, store, and distribute hydrogen at commercial scale does not exist.
FryskDe EU hat krekt 1,2 miljard euro tastien foar wetterstofprojekten yn Europa. Gjin ien dêrfan kin wetterstof fan in produksjeplak nei in klant ferfiere sûnder de hjoeddeistige wet te oertrêden. De ynfrastruktuer om wetterstof op kommersjele skaal te ferfieren, op te slaan en út te dielen bestiet net.
Wetterstof soe fossile brânstoften ferfange moatte yn de swiere yndustry, skipfeart en ferfier oer lange ôfstân. Dútslân, Nederlân en Frankryk hawwe allegear wetterstofstrategyen oankundige. It Ynternasjonaal Enerzjyagintskip seit dat wy de wetterstofproduksje foar 2030 trije kear fergrutsje moatte om klimaatdoelen te heljen. Mar sjoch nei de sifers: 96 prosint fan de wrâldwide wetterstofproduksje komt noch út ierdgas, wat it doel tsjinwurket. Hast gjin lân hat sels mar in wurkend plan om liedingen, opslagtanks of ynstalaasjes foar floeibere wetterstof dy't sa'n oergong freegje soe, te bouwen.
It jild streamt dochs. Oaljebedriuwen lykas Shell en TotalEnergies binne no wetterstofbedriuwen. Enerzjybedriuwen sjogge in kâns om nije steatskontrakten yn 'e hannen te krijen. De belofte fan wetterstof lit politisy beweare dat se earnstich oer it klimaat binne, wylst se de drege kar útstelle: it enerzjygebrûk hielendal stopje of kearnenergie oannimme.
De obstakels binne net nij. Wetterstof is djoer om skjin te produsearjen en brûkt mear enerzjy as it letter opsmite sil. Ferfier is in nachtmerje: it lekt út liedingen, korrodearret metaal en freget spesjale ynfrastruktuer. It floeiber meitsjen foar skipfeart is enerzjy-yntinsyf. Gjin keaper wol wetterstof tsjin Europeeske prizen as oalje en ierdgas goedkeap bliuwe.
De wetterstofekomy kin úteinlik wurkje. No wurket it foaral as jildstream foar enerzjybedriuwen en as manier foar regearingen om earnstich te lykjen sûnder eins wat te feroarjen.
The EU just approved 1.2 billion euros in funding for hydrogen projects across Europe. Not a single one will move hydrogen from a production site to a customer without breaking current law. The infrastructure to transport, store, and distribute hydrogen at commercial scale does not exist.
Hydrogen was supposed to replace fossil fuels in heavy industry, shipping, and long-distance transport. Germany, the Netherlands, and France have all announced hydrogen strategies. The International Energy Agency says we need to triple hydrogen production by 2030 to meet climate targets. But look at the numbers: global hydrogen output is still 96 percent produced from natural gas, which defeats the purpose. Few countries have even a working plan to build the pipelines, storage tanks, or liquefaction plants such a transition would require.
The money is flowing anyway. Oil companies like Shell and TotalEnergies are now hydrogen companies. Energy firms see a chance to lock in new contracts with governments. The promise of hydrogen lets politicians claim they are serious about climate while postponing the hard choice: stopping energy use altogether or accepting nuclear power.
The obstacles are not new. Hydrogen is expensive to produce cleanly, using more energy than it will later provide. Transport is a nightmare: it leaks from pipelines, corrodes metal, and requires special infrastructure. Liquefying it for shipping is energy-intensive. No buyer wants hydrogen at European prices when oil and natural gas are cheap.
The hydrogen economy might work eventually. For now, it works best as a slush fund for energy companies and a way for governments to look serious without changing anything real.
Published June 26, 2026 · Frisian News · Ljouwert, Fryslân