Groningen, 9 July 2026 – Novar and Avitec have received a certificate for the production of green hydrogen for H2 Hollandia. Based on current insights, this makes H2 Hollandia the largest commercial project in the Netherlands to achieve this certification milestone. Earlier this week, the site in Drenthe also successfully produced green hydrogen for the first time during the testing phase. Together, these developments mark an important milestone in the advancement of green hydrogen in the Netherlands.
Certificate confirms compliance with European requirements
The certificate confirms that H2 Hollandia meets the requirements for the production of so-called RFNBO hydrogen: renewable fuel of non-biological origin. This demonstrates that the production process complies with key European requirements for origin, emissions reduction and traceability throughout the chain. More specifically, the certificate was issued by Normec QS B.V. under the ISCC EU (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) certification scheme and is aligned with the requirements of RED III, the European Renewable Energy Directive.
First production during testing phase
At the H2 Hollandia production site, the first 25 kilograms of green hydrogen have now been produced. This demonstrates during the testing phase that the system is functioning as intended. Although the full installation is not yet complete, the first successful production has now been achieved. The compressor and tank infrastructure will follow in the next phase, after which the green hydrogen will be deployed for local industry and heavy transport.
From solar energy to green hydrogen
The green hydrogen produced by H2 Hollandia is made using renewable electricity from Zonnepark Vloeivelden Hollandia. In doing so, the project shows how large-scale solar generation and conversion into green hydrogen can be directly linked within one regional energy system.
A joint project by Novar and Avitec
H2 Hollandia is a joint project by Novar and Avitec, who together act as developers and owners of the project. The combination of development, ownership, renewable generation and practical application makes H2 Hollandia unique in the Netherlands. It brings together large-scale renewable energy generation, smart conversion into hydrogen and regional deployment. Not as a vision of the future, but as a working reality.
“With this certificate, we show that green hydrogen can not only be produced, but can also demonstrably comply with the European requirements needed to scale up this new energy chain,” says Jelmer Pijlman, director and co-founder of Novar. “The fact that we also produced the first green hydrogen at H2 Hollandia in the same week makes this a special moment for us, for our partners and for the energy transition in the Netherlands.”
Next step towards commissioning
With the certification and the first production during the testing phase, Novar and Avitec are taking the next step towards commissioning the full installation. H2 Hollandia stands out in the Netherlands because of its combination of scale, ambition and practical regional applicability.
Novar and Avitec would like to thank the Municipality of Borger-Odoorn and the Province of Drenthe for their involvement and support in reaching this milestone. In addition, RVO and Rabobank have played an important role as subsidy provider and financier.
