The combined production and testing facility enables ROGER, NLR, and external parties to demonstrate and validate hydrogen technology under realistic conditions and optimize production processes. Research within such an operational environment is crucial to accelerate innovations towards large scale adoption. The facility will help reduce the cost of green hydrogen, thus expediting the transition to emission-free energy carriers. The parties aim to have this facility operational by 2025.
NLR
For NLR, partnering with ROGER presents an opportunity to expand their knowledge and conduct research on the application of hydrogen in aviation. Green hydrogen is a promising solution to make aviation more sustainable. For example, aircrafts can be equipped with electrically powered propellers, with hydrogen serving as an energy carrier. The joint venture seamlessly aligns with NLR’s ongoing activities to make hydrogen suitable for aviation applications, including the specific objective of conducting a hydrogen-powered flight using the electrically powered research aircraft, the Pipistrel PH-NLX, in 2025.
“For NLR, this collaboration is a logical step in contributing to achieving climate-neutral aviation by 2050”, Michel Peters, CEO of NLR, stated. “Hydrogen is an important pillar for NLR in this regard. Collaboration with ROGER provides us with the opportunity to further build knowledge through the combined facility for industrial-scale hydrogen electrolysis validation. NLR will also be a consumer of green hydrogen, primarily for use in our drones, materials, and structural research.”
ROGER
ROGER is in the process of developing large-scale green hydrogen production facilities at various locations in the Netherlands to offer companies emission-free solutions for their vehicles, vessels, aircrafts, and heavy machinery. Additionally, ROGER was also looking for a location to combine small-scale production and research on a representative scale.
Aad Bruggeman, CEO of ROGER: “For ROGER, conducting, participating in, and promoting research and development is a fundamental part of its mission and strategy. We aim to be a leader in the development and application of advanced technologies and processes that make green hydrogen production and application even more effective and cost-efficient. Collaborating with a renowned research institute like NLR is a unique opportunity to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy carriers.”
