Trucks running on Drenthe-made hydrogen: H2 Hollandia set to start production in Nieuw-Buinen

In the Drenthe village of Nieuw-Buinen, work is underway on something unprecedented in the Netherlands: a fully green hydrogen project directly coupled to one of the country's largest solar farms. If all goes to plan, the first trucks will hit the road on locally produced hydrogen in September 2026 — made from Drenthe sunshine.

Surplus solar power becomes fuel

The project is called H2 Hollandia and is a joint initiative of three parties: energy developer Novar, civil construction firm Avitec, and project bureau Repowered. The location is no coincidence. Next to the 115 MWp Vloeivelden Hollandia solar farm — home to around 288,000 panels across 100 hectares of former industrial land — a 5 MW PEM electrolyser is being installed. It splits water using solar electricity into hydrogen and oxygen.

The clever part is the direct connection to the solar farm. On sunny afternoons, Vloeivelden produces more electricity than the grid can absorb. That surplus — known as curtailment — was previously wasted. With the electrolyser, that energy is now converted into green hydrogen. A problem (grid congestion) becomes the solution to another problem (expensive, grey hydrogen in heavy transport).

300 tonnes per year, without burdening the grid

The electrolyser has a capacity of 5 megawatts and is expected to produce around 300,000 kilograms — or 300 tonnes — of green hydrogen per year, absorbing roughly half of the solar farm's current curtailment. The partners are also exploring the addition of a battery system to allow continuous overnight operation, potentially doubling output.

The hydrogen is filled on site into tube trailers — specially equipped trucks with high-pressure gas cylinders — and distributed from there to filling stations and industrial customers across Groningen and Drenthe.

From company fleet to the wider region

Avitec, co-owner of the solar park and neighbour of the installation, is also the first off-taker. The firm wants to switch its tractors, wheel loaders and other heavy civil engineering equipment to hydrogen. "How great would it be to refuel at your own site, with hydrogen made by your own solar park?" owner Ben Timmermans said earlier. But the ambition goes further: municipalities, transport companies and other businesses in the region are also expected to eventually be able to refuel at local filling points.

Years in the making, now finally visible

H2 Hollandia is not a new idea. The feasibility study began in 2021. Since then, the project has secured a permit, multiple subsidies — including an OWE grant from RVO worth over €6.54 million and support from the Province of Drenthe and GroenvermogenNL — and went through an intensive period of contract negotiations. The final investment decision was taken in January 2025.

"It's incredibly complex," says project director Ruben Burggraaf. "There are many contracts involved and this is one of the first times this has happened at this scale. Everyone has to agree, and that takes time." But now the installation is there. Inside the container-like structure next to the solar farm, pipes, cables and five electrolyser stacks are ready. First hydrogen: July 2026. First trucks on the road: September 2026.

A project to be proud of

"We're leading the way," says Timmermans. "And honestly — I think it's pretty cool that we're doing this right here in Drenthe."

The project fits within the broader ambitions of the Northern Netherlands. Drenthe, Groningen and Friesland have been jointly designated as Europe's first Hydrogen Valley — a region actively building out the hydrogen value chain. H2 Hollandia is tangible proof of that: not a promise on paper, but an installation under construction in a Drenthe village, that will soon fill real trucks with real green fuel.

Sources:

• RTV Drenthe / RTV1 – Vrachtwagens rijden straks met waterstof uit Nieuw-Buinen (17 April 2026)

• Novar – Final Investment Decision H2 Hollandia (6 January 2025)

• Avitec – FID H2 Hollandia (6 January 2025)

• Change Inc. – Solar farm too large delivers green hydrogen for trucks, tractors and shovels

• Maakindustrie – Novar en Avitec investeren in groen waterstofproject H2 Hollandia

• GroenvermogenNL / Topsector Energie – H2 Hollandia project page