NWO has published the second call for proposals for the R&D part of the National Growth Fund proposal ‘Green capability of the Dutch economy’, or GroenvermogenNL for short. This call has ‘Direct use of hydrogen’ as its focus. For this call, like the previous one focusing on transport and storage of hydrogen, over 14 million euros is available.
Source: NWO
The call aims to optimise the versatile GroenvermogenNL research and innovation programme, in this case in the subfield concerning the direct use of hydrogen in (energy-intensive) industry, mobility and the built environment.
This so-called Work Package 3 ‘Direct use of hydrogen’ is about triggering technical and economic innovations concerning the use of hydrogen in the above three sectors. This will require answers to questions concerning integration in the current energy and resource system. This also includes non-technical aspects of hydrogen deployment, such as international policy changes and support, for instance laws and regulations on hydrogen deployment in various applications and the relevant drivers and barriers to hydrogen deployment involved.
The impact of potential measures and incentives on the level playing field for hydrogen and other sustainable energy carriers is also important here. Use and acceptance of hydrogen and social impact are emphatically part of the research directions. Given the research theme, a transdisciplinary approach is essential.
Climate-neutral society
The call 'Direct use of hydrogen' was created in cooperation with the GroenvermogenNLFoundation. The Dutch government has made a total of €838 million available to GroenvermogenNL under the National Growth Fund (NGF). That initiative should make a substantial contribution to the development of a green-hydrogen ecosystem.
The aim of GroenvermogenNL is to accelerate applications of green hydrogen in the chemical, (heavy) industrial and transport sectors, among others, through innovation and cost reduction. This can put a step-by-step transition to a climate-neutral society within reach. GroenvermogenNL also aims to inspire talent to enable scientific breakthroughs and technological innovations.
Work packages
GroenvermogenNL consists of four components: a scale-up programme, small- and large-scale demonstration projects, a human capital programme and an R&D programme. In the R&D programme, seven so-called ‘work packages’ take shape, each of which will be fleshed out through NWO open calls. Of these, work packages 2 and 3 have now been published. Work package 7, which focuses on the socio-economic aspects and implementation of hydrogen as an energy source, will follow shortly. Altogether, the R&D programme has around 100 million euros available.
Information session
- Physical information session is on Tuesday 31 January 2023 at the Jaarbeurs, Utrecht at 10:00 am;
- Online information session is on 9 February 2023 at 10:00 hrs;
Deadline for submitting Expressions of Interest is 16 February 2023, 14:00 hours; - Eventually (through a procedure grafted on the ‘sandpit’ method) selected parties in workshops in weeks 19 and 22 of 2023 will work together towards forming one consortium that will submit a proposal;
- NWO expects to make a decision on funding of the proposal by mid-October 2023.
Besides the knowledge institutions usual for NWO, TO2 institutions, companies, and other civil society organisations can also participate in this call and apply for funding under certain conditions.
About the National Growth Fund Programme Green Equity
The National Growth Fund Programme Green CapabilityNL is the green capability investment programme for the Dutch economy and society. Through this programme, green hydrogen should be the pulling force for the transition from a fossil-based society and industry to sustainable energy supply. This will enable the Netherlands to build a new industry and an attractive business climate. To make this transition possible, well-trained people and a strong structure of knowledge sharing are necessary. The investment programme runs until 2028.
About the National Growth Fund
Through the National Growth Fund (NGF), the government is investing 20 billion euros in projects that ensure long-term economic growth in the period from 2021 to 2025. Among other things, the National Growth Fund invests in research, development and innovation projects. In a number of these projects, NWO is involved as one of the implementing organisations, including for organising grant programmes for scientific research or scientific talent.
