Optimizing hydrogen supply transport for Dutch regional industry by use of multiple transport options
S.C. Oostdijk (TU Delft - Technology, Policy and Management)
P.W. Heijnen – Mentor (TU Delft - Energy and Industry)
M.E. Warnier – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Multi Actor Systems)
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Abstract
The Dutch industry is responsible for 27% of national greenhouse gas emissions, mainly due to its reliance on natural gas. Green hydrogen is seen as a promising alternative, and the Dutch hydrogen backbone is being developed to connect the five largest industrial clusters. However, many regional industries (Cluster 6) will not be directly connected. These companies are diverse in sector, size and demand, which complicates the design of a cost-efficient supply system. Current research mainly focuses on pipeline networks at a national scale, leaving a knowledge gap on how regional industries can be integrated using multiple transport modes.
This study develops a method to model cost-optimal hydrogen transport networks for Cluster 6 industries using the Optimal Network Layout Tool (ONLT). Industry data was collected and categorised based on demand and distance to existing supply networks. K-means clustering was applied to create industry categories reflecting these characteristics, while DBSCAN clustering was used to group nearby companies and reduce model complexity. The ONLT was adapted to consider three transport modes: pipelines, vessels and trucks.
Results show that while pipelines and waterways are suitable for transporting large quantities of hydrogen, trucks are most cost-efficient for small-scale and flexible transport. The analysis of 291 companies confirms that most regional industries have relatively low hydrogen demand, which strengthens the role of trucks as last-mile solution. The study contributes by filling the gap in literature on regional hydrogen supply, showing how multimodal network design can support the decarbonisation of diverse industrial sectors.