In the Memorandum on Seaports, the province of North Holland outlines what it is aiming for: space for sustainable energy, without this having negative effects on the healthy living environment, biodiversity and the climate. A leading role is reserved for hydrogen and electricity.
The seaports of North Holland are essential for the energy transition. The backbone of the national hydrogen network connects to these ports. And the wind energy generated at sea comes ashore there. In addition, space must be found for all kinds of other activities. In the Seaports Memorandum, the province explains how it wants to fit this complex puzzle together.
Responsible for the memorandum is deputy Rosan Kocken (GroenLinks): "Not everything is possible and not everything can be done right away. As a province, we understand better than anyone what effect, for example, homes in the port have on possible developments for hydrogen elsewhere. This memorandum is our starting point within the cooperation in the regions. Together we have to make it happen."
Hydrogen and electricity play a leading role in the energy transition. That is why the province is committed to connecting both North Holland North and the North Sea Canal area to the national hydrogen backbone, while the realization of wind farms is supported by creating space for the landing of electricity and hydrogen with the parties involved. The province will open a subsidy scheme in 2023 to create more quay space for the construction and maintenance of offshore wind farms.
The Seaports memo expresses the ambition to further expand the position of Den Helder as a 'strong core'. In concrete terms, this means strengthening the offshore maintenance cluster focused on the management and maintenance of offshore wind farms. In a broader sense, the province is committed to the development of North Holland North as a hub in the energy landscape. Among other things, by making the gas infrastructure and the NAM location suitable for hydrogen and in this way connecting Den Helder to the national hydrogen network.
