The first 32-kilometer (20-mile) section of the Dutch national hydrogen pipeline network has been officially activated, marking a major milestone in Europe's transition toward cleaner energy.

The pipeline, located within the sprawling Port of Rotterdam, is now ready to transport hydrogen gas across the industrial hub. 

Dutch King Willem-Alexander symbolically activated the network alongside Climate and Green Growth Minister Stientje van Veldhoven and Willemien Terpstra, the CEO of network operator Gasunie.

The state-owned Gasunie, which operates the national gas network, announced the final weld on the pipeline in August last year. 

As part of the commissioning process, the infrastructure was filled in January with green hydrogen supplied by Plug Power.

The newly activated stretch will transport green hydrogen produced at Shell’s Holland Hydrogen 1 project, a 200-megawatt offshore wind-powered facility currently under construction at the Maasvlakte extension of the port. 

The pipeline will deliver the fuel to Shell’s refinery in the Pernis area. Shell expects to begin commissioning the production project in late 2026, with a full production ramp-up scheduled for 2027.

“The completion of the first section of the hydrogen network demonstrates that hydrogen is no longer a promise for the future, but tangible infrastructure that is already in place and ready for use,” Terpstra said, calling it a strong building block for a sustainable energy system in Northwest Europe.

The active stretch represents the opening phase of an ambitious Dutch national hydrogen network that is projected to span approximately 1,200 kilometers. 

The project will largely repurpose existing natural gas pipelines, which Gasunie noted provides an essential foundation for developing a functioning hydrogen market while supporting industrial decarbonization.

Van Veldhoven emphasized the infrastructure's geopolitical and environmental significance.

“This network is of enormous importance for the Netherlands and for the opportunities it creates for a cleaner and more sustainable industry,” van Veldhoven said. 

“It is a major step in the Netherlands’ ambition to become Europe’s hydrogen hub. This is essential for the climate, while also strengthening our economy and Europe’s energy independence.”