Compliment of the Month: Province of Groningen
In our "Compliment of the Month" series, each month we highlight a party working to accelerate energy transition. For June, our appreciation goes to the Province of Groningen for releasing the Energy Transition 2024-2027 Implementation Program. This program was published almost a year ago, in July 2024, and the first implementation steps are now visible.
With the program, the province shows which themes, actions and resources will be central in the field of energy in the coming years. The emphasis is on implementing existing activities that are necessary or fit within current policies. New policy choices are not made. The ultimate goal is to work toward a sustainable energy system that is 'affordable, available, reliable and resilient for our residents and businesses now and in the future.
Energy storage is a clear focus of the program within the themes of renewable gases and electricity. Such storage is crucial to the operation of a sustainable and stable energy system.
What's in the program?
For renewable gases, the province emphasizes that continuous availability of hydrogen is necessary for a large-scale hydrogen economy. Storage is indispensable here. The program mentions that the national government has started a project procedure to investigate the possibilities for storage in salt caverns in Groningen. The province is taking an advisory role in this.
For electricity, battery storage is mentioned as a solution to cope with fluctuations on the electricity grid. The province is working on spatial policy that makes clear where, and under what conditions, batteries can be realized. These frameworks will be included in the new environmental vision and ordinance.
What has since been set in motion?
In March 2025, the ministers of Climate and Green Growth (KGG) and Housing and Spatial Planning (VRO) gave the green light for the HyStock Hydrogen Storage Project. This project includes the construction of four salt caverns for hydrogen storage at Zuidwending (municipality of Veendam). This marks an important step in the realization of large-scale hydrogen storage in the region.
There are also concrete developments in the field of electricity storage. In the same month, the province announced in the draft Environmental Vision 2025-2050 that preferred locations for large, stand-alone battery systems are being sought in the so-called XXL business parks. One of these, the Oosterhorn site in Delfzijl, is now the scene of the construction of GIGA Leopard: a 300-megawatt battery with a storage capacity of 1,200 megawatt hours. This battery is expected to be commissioned in 2027. Its realization has been made possible through a time-limited transportation right contract with grid operator TenneT. According to Hylke Havinga of consultancy Ventolines, the designation of suitable locations is an important step because it creates clarity for both market parties and municipalities, thus giving direction to the energy system of the future. For parties at other locations, this may be a setback, but it does provide clarity and direction in the development of the energy system.
It is striking that thermal storage is barely mentioned in the Implementation Program, even though this form of storage also plays an essential role in the new energy system. Groningen in particular has made strides in this area. In 2024, on the northern edge of the city, the solar thermal park on the former Dorkwerd dredging depot was completed. This is the third largest solar thermal park in the world. The solar heat generated is stored in a hot water buffer tank and then supplied to WarmteStad's heat network. Since December 2024, the park has actually been supplying heat to households.
The correlation between the ambitions in the implementation program and the projects that have already been started shows that Groningen is not only making plans, but actually implementing them. With targeted choices and concrete progress, the province is making a visible contribution to a future-proof energy system, and that is more than worthy of this compliment.
