Energy islands are no longer being considered in the Netherlands. Instead, the focus has been shifted to offshore energy hubs and interconnectors. With rising (cyber)security concerns as a result of a number of recent incidents in European waters, as well as the Russia-Ukraine war, diversification of the energy system is high on the agenda. Offshore wind and offshore solar sound just like the perfect couple, but where does hydrogen fit in?

At the Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference (OEEC) panel session on grids and interconnectors, Huygen van Steen , Program Manager Offshore Wind and Energy System at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) , Joris Koornneef , Lead scientist North Sea Energy Program at Dutch research institute TNO , Saskia Jaarsma , Head of Offshore Development – Large Projects Offshore at Dutch transmission system operator (TSO) Tenn eT , and Michiel van Rij , Country Lead Offshore Wind Development Netherlands at RWE , noted that net zero could not be reached unless the appropriate grid is in place.