The Netherlands has one of the most reliable energy systems in Europe. This strong starting point is invaluable to our economy, our citizens and the energy transition. At the same time, the way we generate energy is changing rapidly. The International Energy Agency confirms that the growing use of solar and wind energy is making the energy supply less predictable. In addition, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has concluded that this is reducing supply security. TenneT warns that this development is progressing faster than previously anticipated. The likelihood of minor power outages will increase, particularly after 2030.

Maintaining the reliability of the energy supply requires a system that can respond to fluctuations in supply and demand. This in turn calls for new forms of flexibility and an infrastructure that is equipped to handle this. Hydrogen serves as a connecting energy carrier in this context. Gasunie is not simply waiting for this to happen but is actively building a robust hydrogen infrastructure. As the operator of the gas infrastructure in the Netherlands and with a growing role offshore, Gasunie is taking measures to ensure the stability of the energy system in the run-up to 2050.

Hydrogen as the link between generation and use

The stability of the energy system requires a new balance between generation and consumption. Hydrogen plays a key role here: as an energy carrier, a means of storage and a link between generation and use. Like methane, hydrogen is well suited to large-scale storage and transport via pipelines, either temporarily or for longer periods. During periods of low renewable energy production, such as cold spells with little sunlight or wind, hydrogen makes it possible to meet demand.

Hydrogen also offers a solution when there is a surplus of sustainable electricity, such as during peak production at wind farms in the North Sea. Electrolysis can be used to convert this electricity into green hydrogen, which can be stored and used at a later date. This reduces waste and increases the flexibility of the system. Wind farm operators can use their surplus energy to produce hydrogen and transport it to shore via pipelines. This creates an additional revenue stream.

Offshore production prevents unnecessary grid reinforcement and makes the energy system less dependent on direct supply. According to Frontier Economics, this will result in annual savings of € 5 billion to € 11 billion in energy system costs through 2050.

Use of hydrogen in the energy system

Hydrogen not only plays a role in compensating for fluctuations, but it can also be used directly as a fuel. Conventional methane-powered power stations will remain indispensable because of the flexibility they provide to the energy system. They can be adapted to also use hydrogen, which will keep the system reliable even when the supply of solar and wind energy is temporarily unavailable. This versatility also means that fewer grid investments are needed since existing infrastructure can be reused. In this way, hydrogen contributes to the security of the energy supply and helps to keep system costs manageable.


Hydrogen is also playing an increasingly important role in the transport sector. In the Climate Package presented by the Dutch government in its 2025 Spring Memorandum, it was decided to shift part of the mandatory use of renewable hydrogen from industry to transport fuels. This decision makes scaling up more realistic, as the costs can be better passed on to the transport sector. This offers real opportunities, particularly in maritime transport and refining. Hydrogen will not only serve as a buffer for the energy system, but also as a direct replacement for fossil fuels.

However, this requires the necessary infrastructure to be in place. Gasunie and Hynetwork (a 100% subsidiary of Gasunie) are developing this infrastructure on land and at sea on behalf of the Dutch government.

Infrastructure as a prerequisite for supply security

The Netherlands has a robust and efficient energy system with multiple energy flows, which have grown in volume and diversity since the 1960s. As the share of renewable energy increases, matching energy supply and demand is becoming both more important and more complex. This rising complexity puts pressure on one of the key principles of the Dutch energy system: reliability.The energy system of tomorrow will rely on proven technologies, methods and materials, supplemented by the latest research and insights.

Electrolysis, for example, is more than a century old and already widely used in various applications. Together with TenneT, Gasunie is exploring how this technology can be used to convert electricity into hydrogen and transport it via repurposed offshore pipelines to the Hydrogen Network Netherlands.Reusing existing infrastructure makes it possible to carry out projects more quickly and cost-effectively than building entirely new systems.

The Netherlands has set ambitious climate targets. To achieve these, it is essential that industrial stakeholders, renewable project developers and offtakers across the hydrogen value chain can rely on the timely development of the necessary infrastructure. Only with that confidence can they make well-founded long-term investment decisions. Given the complexity of the infrastructure required, it is crucial that network operators start building the energy system of tomorrow.

About Gasunie

Gasunie is a European energy infrastructure company. Gasunie’s network is one of the largest pressure pipeline networks in Europe, comprising over 17,000 kilometres of pipeline in the Netherlands and northern Germany. Gasunie provides natural and green gas transport services through its subsidiaries, Gasunie Transport Services B.V. (GTS) in the Netherlands and Gasunie Deutschland in Germany. With its crossborder gas infrastructure and services, Gasunie facilitates TTF, which has become a leading European gas trading point. Gasunie also provides other gas infrastructure services, including gas storage and LNG. Gasunie wants to help accelerate the transition to a CO2 neutral energy supply and believes that gas related innovations, for instance in the form of renewable gases such as hydrogen and green gas, can make an important contribution. Both existing and new gas infrastructure play a key role here. Gasunie also plays an active part in the development of other energy infrastructure to support the energy transition.