King to visit Denmark and Norway in connection with the development of the hydrogen market in northwestern Europe
His Majesty King Willem-Alexander will visit Denmark and Norway from Tuesday 12 November to Thursday 14 November, accompanied by Sophie Hermans, Minister of Climate Policy and Green Growth. The visit’s main themes will be hydrogen and the energy system of the future. His Majesty King Frederik X of Denmark and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway will join the King for parts of the programme. A Dutch business delegation will also be taking part.
The aim of this working visit is to expand cooperation between the Netherlands and Denmark and Norway in the realm of hydrogen and regional hydrogen infrastructure. In order to jointly build sustainable hydrogen chains and thus develop the European hydrogen market, we need to encourage knowledge sharing, research, technological innovation, import and export connections and related infrastructure.
In both Denmark and Norway, the visit will focus on the construction of onshore and offshore infrastructure, export capacity to the Netherlands, decarbonisation of the maritime industry and the development of maritime corridors. In Denmark, exchange of knowledge on financial models will be a particular focus. In Norway, special attention will be paid to cooperation in the area of carbon capture and storage.
Tuesday 12 November – Lyngby and Copenhagen
Morning
Working visit to TOPSOE
On Tuesday morning, King Willem-Alexander will visit TOPSOE in Lyngby, a high-tech company that specialises in decarbonisation technologies. The King will be given a tour of the facility, where he will learn about a new, more effective form of electrolysis. There will also be a discussion of the importance of the European electrolysis-related manufacturing industry.
Conference at Danish Industry
Following that, at Danish Industry in Copenhagen, a high-level conference will be held on developments in onshore and offshore infrastructure for the regional hydrogen market. King Willem-Alexander will give a speech, and a number of MoUs will be signed between Danish and Dutch companies and organisations active in the area of hydrogen and energy infrastructure. After the conference the King will attend a matchmaking event for Dutch and Danish companies.
Afternoon
Carbon-free ports and the maritime sector
In the afternoon there will be a boat cruise departing from Nyhavn. During the cruise King Willem-Alexander will speak with stakeholders about the decarbonisation of ports and the maritime sector. This will be followed by an event at Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), where there will be a discussion on financing the energy transition.
Wednesday 13 November – greater Bergen and Oslo
Morning
Northern Lights facility
On Wednesday the King will visit Northern Lights facility in Øygarden. The facility, which opened its doors in September, is the first example of open-source infrastructure for carbon transport and storage. It aims to provide a safe and permanent storage solution for captured carbon.
ZEG Power
Following that, King Willem-Alexander will be given a tour of a blue hydrogen pilot plant at ZEG Power. ZEG delivers solutions for clean hydrogen production from gas on the basis of a new technology with integrated carbon capture.
Cooperation between the Norwegian and Dutch business communities
The King will return to Bergen by boat from Øygarden. On board there will be an opportunity for discussions with members of the Norwegian and Dutch business community.
Afternoon
Historical ties
Upon arrival in Bergen, King Willem-Alexander will visit Bryggen, a historic harbour district that was the economic heart of the Hanseatic city of Bergen from the 14th to the mid-16th century. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, Bryggen illustrates the importance of the centuries-old commercial ties between the Netherlands and Norway.
Cooperation on blue hydrogen and carbon storage
After a walk through the district there will be a lunch meeting at Håkon’s Hall, which will address strategic cooperation in the North Sea and market developments related to blue hydrogen and carbon storage. Minister Hermans will give a speech here.
Evening
Business dinner
After the lunch meeting, King-Alexander will depart for Oslo. That evening, a business dinner will be held for Norwegian and Dutch companies. The King will deliver a speech at the dinner.
Thursday 14 November – Oslo
Morning
Hystar
On Thursday morning, King Willem-Alexander will visit Hystar which manufactures electrolysers. A 1 gigawatt plant is also being built on this site. In the main building Norwegian and Dutch companies will discuss the production of electrolysers, market developments and the role played by public-private partnerships.
Decarbonisation of the maritime sector
At Oslo town hall, a roundtable discussion will subsequently be held on the role of hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives in the decarbonisation of the maritime sector. The focus of the discussion will be on the importance of green maritime corridors, including between the Netherlands and Norway.
Boat tour of the port of Oslo
The discussion will continue during a boat tour around Oslo harbour, during which there will be a presentation on various greening initiatives that have been taken for the port.
Government Information Service, no. 292