HYDELTA 4 continues hydrogen research

This month sees the launch of the fourth edition of the Dutch public-private research programme HyDelta. The research addresses the incorporation of hydrogen gas into the Dutch gas transport and distribution system. HyDelta 4 has a duration of 15 months. The results of the HyDelta programme are publicly and freely available and are attracting worldwide interest. The HyDelta consortium is formed by Gasunie, Netbeheer Nederland, TKI New Gas, DNV, Kiwa, TNO and New Energy Coalition (coordinator).

In the Netherlands, we continue to work on the energy transition. Sustainable gases are essential, with sustainable hydrogen playing a leading role -especially in industry. The Dutch grid operators are committed to transporting hydrogen via natural gas transport and distribution pipelines to wherever it is needed in the future. A major part of the required knowledge for this will be raised through the HyDelta research programme.

Insights from previous projects with hydrogen grids and global developments with hydrogen have led to new questions, for example on preventing and measuring hydrogen emissions from a pipeline network, and on balancing and making the grid safe even in exceptional circumstances.  This is why HyDelta 4 was launched in April 2025.

Closer to Hydrogen grid

It is clear that we are getting closer and closer to the realisation of hydrogen grids: where earlier research focused mainly on technical feasibility and behaviour of hydrogen gas, research is now about planning optimal distribution to industrial clusters, among others, and monitoring and maintaining the future hydrogen grids.

The research results will be available via the HyDelta website, as are the 75+ reports from previous phases of the research programme. The studies are attracting global interest.

HyDelta was co-funded by TKI Energy from the PPP funds for Top Consortia for Knowledge and Innovation (TKIs) of the Dutch Ministry of Climate and Green Growth - reference TKI2025-HyDelta.

About HyDelta

On the initiative of Gasunie and Netbeheer Nederland, the HyDelta consortium was formed in 2020, consisting of parties with extensive experience in researching and testing hydrogen transport and application. The research programme focuses on an integrated approach to solutions for the transport and use of hydrogen gas. Directly applicable research is central. The first phase of the research programme, HyDelta 1, started in January 2021, followed by HyDelta 2, 3 and now 4. The research results are available in the HyDelta database.