Next Generation Machinery (NGM) in Dirkshorn, one of the partners in Fieldlab Hydrogen in Agri, has taken an important step towards the market introduction of an emission-free, mobile energy system. With an investment of €350,000 from the Innovation Fund North Holland, NGM is developing a system that converts methanol into hydrogen on location, which is used to generate electricity via a fuel cell.
The electrification of heavy equipment in construction and other sectors requires reliable and clean power supply, especially in places where the electricity grid is absent or overloaded. Diesel generators are often still the standard, despite their high emissions and nitrogen impact.
With its technology, NGM offers a sustainable alternative: methanol – a liquid energy carrier with high energy density – is converted into hydrogen on site, which then generates electricity in a fuel cell. This process is completely free of nitrogen oxide emissions, fossil CO₂ or particulate matter, and directly contributes to reducing nitrogen emissions at temporary workplaces.
The financing of the Innovation Fund North Holland is specifically used for the further development of the heart of the system: the technology that converts methanol into hydrogen. This is a crucial step in realizing the complete mobile energy system consisting of a methanol reformer, hydrogen fuel cell and a smart charging station.
The first working prototype is scheduled to be delivered in mid-2026. NGM will then test the system in pilot projects under practical conditions, together with users from the construction sector, among others. NGM names suppliers as follows: Energy Greenery Alkmaar (EGA)Under these names, DOPS and Sustenso are working on the realisation of a factory for the production of sustainable methanol from organic waste flows.
The advantages of methanol as an energy carrier – liquid, easy to transport and store – make the system suitable for various sectors. Think of heavy equipment on construction sites, but also agricultural companies, festivals and temporary installations where grid congestion occurs. NGM's solution can be scaled up and adapted to different power needs.
Ludolf Stavenga, fund manager at Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland: “The energy transition requires robust, applicable innovations. NGM shows that with smart technology and a sharp vision you can make a concrete contribution to sustainable energy mobility.”