GROHW - an initiative of Witteveen+Bos
How we’re accelerating the energy transition with green hydrogen
GROHW - an initiative of Witteveen+Bos
Almost everywhere in the Netherlands, the electricity network is faced with congestion. As a result, the development of new sustainable energy sources and the electrification of business processes cannot proceed. The risk that sustainable electricity goes unused and the energy transition is slowed down is very much real. This situation calls for a solution which intelligently generates, stores and distributes sustainable electricity at a local level. Green hydrogen can be one of its building blocks.
Supply chain thinking
GROHW (green oxygen, hydrogen and waste heat production) is a local initiative involving supply chain partners* that aims to accelerate the energy transition and reduce carbon emissions. Its most important building block is green hydrogen. The GROHW collective investigates the technically and financially feasible generation, storage and distribution of green hydrogen, oxygen and waste heat in industry and mobility. In other words, it looks at establishing an initially local supply chain which links the generators of sustainable energy with its consumers.
Scalable and affordable
Witteveen+Bos has developed a blueprint for this GROHW supply chain: a scalable design that can also be deployed in industrial areas in combination with wind energy and solar parks. The blueprint consists of an installation – an electrolyser – that can produce hydrogen, oxygen or waste heat using sustainable electricity. A smart strategy for upscaling and supply contracts keeps hydrogen buffers to a minimum, significantly reducing the cost price.
Wide and affordable deployment
Investing now in developing this green hydrogen supply chain means it can be widely and affordably deployed in the near future as a contribution to the much-needed energy transition. In GROHW’s design, not only the hydrogen but also the oxygen and waste heat released by electrolysis are used. The decentrally generated green hydrogen can also be used locally in industry, mobility, or the built environment. As a result, hardly any energy is lost.
Gasfabriek pilot
In 2022 and 2023, GROHW conducted an initial 50 kW pilot at De Gasfabriek in Deventer. This was partly made possible by an eastern Netherlands REACT-EU subsidy, supplemented by contributions from the project partners. The pilot installation sustainably heated a heritage-listed office, with the waste heat from the electrolyser also being used. Witteveen+Bos was responsible for the system integration design, safety analyses (HAZOP and QRA), and the all-in-one permit request.
First shared industrial hydrogen network
On 2 September 2025, the first shared industrial hydrogen network was opened. Its first customer was Nefit Bosch’s hydrogen laboratory. Essent is responsible for the green hydrogen supply and Firan for the hydrogen network. Witteveen+Bos assisted with the design and the permit requests.
Thanks in part to an OWE subsidy – a contribution from the Regio Deal for Stedendriehoek – several additional companies will connect to this green hydrogen network in the coming years. Concrete plans have also been made for the supply of oxygen and waste heat.
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