A budget of 30 million euros is set aside by the federal government to finance 6 hydrogen projects across the nation. Out of the 36 submissions, the government chose 6 to begin a hydrogen industry.
On the recommendation of the Minister of Energy, Tinne Van der Straeten, a call for proposals titled “Clean Energy for Clean Industries” was issued (Groen). Six winners have been declared. A 30 million euro federal budget will be split between them. These initiatives are intended to kick off the nation’s actual hydrogen industry.
Chosen projects
- The “GrHyne” John Cockerill program active in the search for materials for electrolyzers up to 5 MW.
- John Cockerill also has a partnership with Bekaert, Colruyt, Deme, Imec, and Vito to develop membrane electrolysis.
- France’s Lhyfe plans to produce green hydrogen at the port of Ostend
- Luminus associated with AGC, Materia Nova, and Fluxys is studying the production of hydrogen with gas on a site under construction in Seraing.
- Bekaert will receive part of the subsidies for workers on materials related to hydrogen technologies.
- The wind energy specialist Storm wants to produce hydrogen locally from renewable energy sources with a location in Olen (Antwerp).
This year will see the opening of a second call for projects, with a 20 million euro funding pool. To carry these gases around the nation, Fluxys’ hydrogen-CO2 backbone has already received €300 million in funding. The infrastructure to link the clusters and envelopes for the Walloon and Flemish industries, each at €117 million and €125 million, is also funded with €95 million.
