H2 for heat Hoogeveen pilot to end, while housing development in Nijstad-Oost continues
28 October 2026
The partners behind the Hoogeveen Hydrogen District pilot have jointly decided to bring the project to an end. The pilot, part of the HEAVENN Hydrogen Valley programme, explored the potential of hydrogen as an alternative to natural gas for heating new and existing homes. The housing development in Nijstad-Oost will continue as planned, but hydrogen will no longer be used to heat the new homes.
The decision was made by Essent, RENDO/N-TRA, Gasunie, Remeha and the Municipality of Hoogeveen because the hydrogen system cannot be brought into operation in time. As it remains unclear when the system can be made safe and reliable, the partners have decided not to use hydrogen in Nijstad-Oost. The nine existing homes in the Erflanden neighbourhood that were due to be converted to hydrogen will also remain unconverted.
Safety comes first
The pilot set out to investigate whether hydrogen could serve as a viable alternative to natural gas for heating homes and other buildings. One of the key challenges is ensuring that hydrogen can be used safely in residential settings.
Like natural gas, hydrogen is odourless. To enable residents to detect potential leaks, an odour must be added to the hydrogen supply. This process is known as odorisation. However, the system designed to perform this function is not working sufficiently, and no solution is expected in the short term. This means the hydrogen system cannot be brought into operation within the required timeframe.
Addressing the impact on residents and builders
Ending the pilot has consequences for the builders involved in the Nijstad-Oost development and for the residents of the nine homes in Erflanden that were due to be converted to hydrogen. Both groups had been expecting a hydrogen connection.
An alternative heating solution will now need to be selected for the new homes. The project partners have made it a priority to ensure that builders and residents are not left to bear the consequences of the pilot’s termination. Their immediate focus is therefore on providing clarity, addressing concerns and resolving the practical and financial implications, so that the housing development can proceed without disruption. The municipality and the parties involved will work together to develop suitable solutions.
Lessons for future hydrogen applications
Through the pilot, the project partners investigated in practice whether hydrogen could be a viable alternative to natural gas for heating homes. Significant work has been carried out over the past few years. The hydrogen network has been installed, hydrogen boilers have been made available, the necessary permits and procedures have been completed, and almost all preparations for launching the pilot have been finalised.
Although the pilot will not proceed as intended, it has generated valuable knowledge and experience about the application of hydrogen in the built environment. These insights contribute to the wider learning objectives of HEAVENN, the Hydrogen Valley programme working to advance the development and application of hydrogen across the northern Netherlands.
The project partners acknowledge and appreciate the commitment of everyone who has worked to make this innovative project possible over the past few years. The pilot has provided valuable insights into what is required to use hydrogen for residential heating. However, this achievement is accompanied by disappointment that the pilot must end at a stage when its implementation was so close.
Read the original press release by the municipality of Hoogeveen (in Dutch): https://www.hoogeveen.nl/nieuwsoverzicht/artikel/de-pilot-waterstofwijk-hoogeveen-stopt-woningbouw-nijstad-oost-gaat-door/