In our series about the partners in the project Fieldlab Hydrogen in Agri, we give the floor to Rienk de Jong, senior engineer at BNR-Energy. About, among other things, grid congestion and the development of a scalable electrolyzer for local production of green hydrogen.
1. Tell me, what kind of company is BNR-Energy?
“BNR-Energy is a subsidiary of BNR-Capital, an investment company that invests in sustainable innovation, among other things. In 2023, we acquired Hydrogen Powered Solution (H2PS). With this company, we want to accelerate the energy transition through hydrogen.”
2. How do you do that within the project Fieldlab Hydrogen in Agri. What is BNR-Energy working on?
“With BNR-Energy we are developing a compact and scalable electrolyzer for small and medium-sized companies. This electrolyzer can be used locally to convert a surplus of green energy into hydrogen. The electrolyzer can provide peak shaving, especially when there is an abundance of energy. And in combination with heat storage, it can provide free or low-cost heat and grid balancing. In addition, this hydrogen can be used to reduce gas-fired heating systems, or in the future for locally refueling machines.”
3. Why is this project so important to you?
“Grid congestion is increasingly a problem in the Netherlands. Because entrepreneurs cannot get an energy connection, they are dependent on local solutions. Solar power is an important component in this. By using roofs to generate power, companies can provide for their own needs, but in periods with a lot of sun there is a surplus. Feeding back into the grid is no longer always possible.
“By capturing green energy in a smart way, we remove peaks from production (peak shaving) and contribute to balancing the grid. You can use the hydrogen for heating or as fuel for machines. By also using the heat released during electrolysis, we achieve high efficiency. And because we produce at an optimal time, energy costs are low. With local production, you also do not have transport, so efficiency increases even further.”
4. What is the biggest challenge for you?
“Legislation and regulations. The constantly changing guidelines and the lack of policy and knowledge when it comes to the production and application of hydrogen. Sure, we have some technical challenges to overcome, but for large-scale introduction this is the biggest challenge for us.”
5. And what is your greatest success to date?
“Green energy that is produced in abundance in the Netherlands on company roofs, we can efficiently convert into hydrogen. Companies can use that to reduce their gas consumption. In this way we reduce CO2 emissions and even provide an impetus for a solution to the pressing problem of grid congestion.”
