Founded on a solid foundation, the Northern Netherlands is positioning itself as one of the leaders in energy transition. With NOM as investor and connecting link we are working towards a clean and sustainable future. For the North and far beyond.
The Northern Netherlands is the energy region of the Netherlands. This leading position does not come out of the blue. The foundation for its rich energy history was laid after the Groningen field was discovered near Slochteren in 1959. One of the largest gas fields in the world, it would turn out. Not only did natural gas bring prosperity, it also brought crucial knowledge, expertise and infrastructure to the region in the form of seaports, storage facilities and (gas) pipelines. And a strong knowledge infrastructure, of course, of companies, knowledge institutions, clusters and collaborations around energy production and distribution.
Of course, much has changed over the years. The era of fossil fuels is coming to an end. The energy transition is in full swing. The North is changing with it. The knowledge, expertise and infrastructure that have been
built up over the past decades are now being used for innovation and the onshore and offshore production of sustainable energy. Or rather: by cleverly building on what is already there and by cleverly cooperating, the Northern Netherlands is taking the lead in the energy transition.
Hydrogen
As a booster of the regional economy, NOM invests in companies that help accelerate the greening of the energy sector. For example, in startups and existing companies that develop new technologies that make the generation, storage and use of renewable energy easier and more efficient. Think of technologies in the field of solar and wind energy or, last but not least, innovations around the production of hydrogen as a raw material for the chemical sector.
Hydrogen plays a crucial role as a feedstock in the chemical sector, but is not seen by NOM as a broad energy carrier. On the initiative of the New Energy Coalition, the Northern Netherlands has been recognized by the European Commission as a so-called Hydrogen Valley, an ecosystem integrating production, storage and distribution of green hydrogen. Eemshaven serves as a core location, converting offshore wind energy into hydrogen. But to further launch the production of green hydrogen, obtained entirely from renewable sources, much remains to be done. Electrolysis, the splitting of water into oxygen and hydrogen, is the cleanest method and at the same time a proven technology. This is why NOM is committed, among other things, to stimulating small-scale
regional hydrogen production, particularly on innovations in existing electrolyzer technology.
Clout
NOM's activities in the energy sector are essentially focused on developing and strengthening value chains and ecosystems. As a connecting link and cooperation partner of the New Energy Coalition, we want to bring together promising startups, SMEs, corporates, governments and knowledge institutions and encourage them to work together. To then foster that collaboration and ensure that things get off the ground. This not only benefits individual companies, but it increases the strength of the entire northern economy.
Energy from water
In addition to the available knowledge and expertise and the established infrastructure, the strength of the Northern Netherlands also lies in the diversity of sustainable energy sources. Whereas Groningen and Drenthe are engaged in green hydrogen production via electrolysis, supported by offshore wind farms, Friesland focuses on generating energy from water.
Capital, knowledge and network
With targeted investments and the strengthening of the northern energy ecosystem, NOM is working for a future that extends beyond tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. NOM has capital, knowledge and a network. The door is always open for entrepreneurs who are working on a sustainable and healthy energy sector with smart solutions and thus help strengthen the leading role of the Northern Netherlands.
Notable company in the industry - SeaQurrent
Equally groundbreaking is SeaQurrent's invention. The startup, with offices in Drachten and Groningen, has been working since 2016 on an underwater kite that generates energy from tidal currents. Because yes, founders Youri Wentzel, Maarten Berkhout and Maurits Alberda knew, there is a lot of energy in the up and down movement of water by the tides. So why not do more with the forces of ebb and flow? Thus was born the idea for the underwater kite, called the Tidalkite. The kite moves from right to left, across the currents, and is connected to a generator on the sea floor. The green power generated is carried to the mainland by a power cable.
NOM and FOM were immediately enthusiastic and have been shareholders for some time. The Wadden Fund also decided to invest in SeaQurrent in 2024. Not surprising, after all, the company uses a predictable sustainable energy source and can make an impact worldwide. Moreover, SeaQurrent, which has about 30 employees, fits perfectly into the energy cluster in the Northern Netherlands.
The TidalKite is currently being tested in the estuary between Terschelling and Ameland and should initially be able to provide several hundred households on Ameland with tidal energy. Naturally, the islanders are happy about that. Ameland wants to lead the way and be CO2 neutral as early as 2035. For example, Amelander Energiecoöperatie AEC and the municipality together already own two-thirds of a large solar park on the island. 'It's great that we can also contribute to that sustainable ambition with our technology,' says SeaQurrent co-founder Maurits Alberda, 'without ruining the view and without having a major impact on nature.'