In 2007 further progress was made in the ‘Duurzaam Ameland’ (Sustainable Ameland) project. This project, started jointly with the municipality of Ameland, ENECO Energie and the Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM), provides for a series of demonstration projects which should ultimately lead to the attainment of sustainable energy supplies for the island. The fact that this relates to a clearly demarcated area and a self-contained living and working community with accompanying infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, makes the efforts all the more attractive. Ameland can serve as an important example for the development of forms of sustainable energy.
At the end of 2007 preparatory activities commenced for the ‘Waterstof in Aardgas’ (Hydrogen in Natural Gas) project.
In the Noorderlicht residential complex in Nes, 14 apartments have had their gas mains, cookers and central heating boilers adapted for the use of natural gas to which a maximum of 20 per cent of hydrogen gas is added.
The project mainly intends to collect information about the effects of hydrogen on gas pipelines and gas appliances. Given that the changed gas composition may have an effect on the performances of the gas appliances, the experiences of the inhabitants are also included in the study. Hydrogen can be extracted from water using electrolysis. CO2 emissions can be substantially reduced through large-scale application of hydrogen produced in a sustainable manner.
