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Wednesday, 19 August 2026 in
BC1 Business Channel One
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Energy

Sustainable transport with hydrogen

🎬 Multilingual subtitles
✍️ By: Team BC1.NL

The hydrogen fuelling station in Alkmaar is not just for cars

Hydrogen supports the shift to sustainable transportSince January, Alkmaar in the Netherlands has become a key hub in the transition to sustainable mobility. The opening of a new hydrogen fuelling station marks a significant step forward toward zero-emission transport. The station is not just for passenger cars, vans and trucks can also refuel here with hydrogen. This makes it a future-proof solution for businesses preparing for the introduction of zero-emission zones.

Alkmaar in the heart of the Hydrogen Valley

Development company NHN is one of the parties working to make the transport sector in North Holland North more sustainable.The hydrogen station is part of a broader wave of sustainable developments in the North Holland North region. Recognizing the area’s innovative projects and strong partnerships in hydrogen technology, the European Union has designated both North Holland North and the North Sea Canal area as part of the ‘Hydrogen Valley’. This shows that the energy transition is not a distant dream, it’s already happening here and now.

Hydrogen from green gas, and later from wind

Trucks fuelling hydrogen at 350 barThe hydrogen available in Alkmaar is provided by NXT Mobility and is sustainably produced from green gas. The next goal is to generate hydrogen directly from wind energy, as envisioned in the Duwaal program. This advancement will make hydrogen fuelling even more environmentally friendly.
Watch the documentary on hydrogen

Building a sustainable network together

Frank Brandsen of New Energy CoalitionThe realization of the fuelling station is the result of close collaboration between public and private partners. Marlies van Dijk (Development Agency NHN), Frank Brandsen

Erik Metselaar of NXT Mobility(New Energy Coalition), and Erik Metselaar (NXT Mobility) emphasize the importance of perseverance and cooperation in overcoming the “chicken-and-egg” dilemma between vehicles and infrastructure.

Driving on hydrogen, what is it like in practice

René Helmhout drives a hydrogen van from HB AdviesbureauRené Helmhout of HB Adviesbureau shares his personal experience with hydrogen-powered driving in the film. He explains how it works in practice and outlines the key benefits compared to fossil fuels.

Curious about how hydrogen transport works in real life? Watch the documentary and discover how Alkmaar is contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Also interesting:

The energy transition only succeeds with energy storage
Hydrogen the documentary

Frequently asked questions

This is a short summary of the film. Watch the video above for the full story.

Which vehicles can refuel at this hydrogen fuelling station?
The station has two dispensers, a 700 bar and a 350 bar dispenser. Passenger cars and vans refuel at 700 bar, while trucks and buses currently run and refuel at 350 bar.
Why are there so few hydrogen fuelling stations?
Hydrogen has a chicken and egg problem, as long as there is no station there are no vehicles on the road, and the other way around. Building one turned out to be a long process, the rules for this new fuel did not exist yet, permits and business cases had to be built from scratch, and parties that stepped in backed out halfway. Subsidy schemes are now on the way that support a station and the vehicles together.
How far can you drive on a full hydrogen tank?
On a full tank you can drive roughly 300 kilometres. In addition, the battery of the electric part allows for at least another 50 kilometres. Refuelling takes about five minutes.
Does a hydrogen car have a combustion engine?
No. A hydrogen vehicle is an electric car. The hydrogen is converted into electricity on board, and there is an ordinary battery in it as well. In the film a driver says it drives like an electric car, only quieter, and that a full tank takes him about 300 kilometres with at least 50 kilometres more on the battery.
Why hydrogen and not battery-electric for heavy transport?
Battery-electric runs into grid congestion, because the network cannot handle charging everywhere. With hydrogen you fill the tank in five minutes and the truck drives another few hundred kilometres emission-free. On top of that, hauliers will soon only be allowed into city centres with zero-emission vehicles.
Why will only zero-emission vehicles be allowed into city centres?
More and more cities have a zero-emission zone for deliveries, where vans and trucks have to be emission-free. The first zones came into force in 2025, with transition periods for vehicles already registered. For hauliers, that is the reason to look at emission-free transport now.
Where can I watch the full film?
These questions and answers are a short summary. Watch the full film "Sustainable transport with hydrogen" with all insights, examples and background at https://www.bc1.eu/sustainable-transport-with-hydrogen/
Tags:CO2 reductionenergyenergy transitionh2mobilityHydrogen Valleyinnovationclimate targetsNorth Hollandtransportsustainability transitionhydrogenBC1®

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