THE HAGUE – On May 15, 1975, the first Dutch North Sea gas flowed ashore, providing households and industry with safe and affordable energy. A total of 234 fields produced an impressive 932 billion Nm3 of offshore gas. Meanwhile, the role of natural gas has evolved from the cleanest fossil fuel to a transitional fuel toward a renewable energy system. Half a century later, Dutch gas still plays an important role.
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It plays a role in our energy security, national safety, and affordability. It is no coincidence that Minister Hermans recently signed an agreement with the sector to stimulate gas production from the Dutch small fields. This way, we can continue to provide the cleanest possible natural gas during the energy transition. Moreover, the reusable gas infrastructure forms a crucial foundation in the energy transition. For example, we store CO₂ in depleted gas fields and can repurpose pipelines for hydrogen transport with some modifications.
Chair of industry association Element NL, Gerda Verburg: “The gas from the North Sea seabed has brought the Netherlands tremendous prosperity and well-being. Seventy percent of the revenues flow to the state, and our country was able to phase out much more polluting coal in a short time. Now that the energy transition isn’t going as smoothly as we’d like, Dutch natural gas remains of great importance even after 50 years.”
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What began fifty years ago with the L10-A platform—following the discovery of natural gas by the company Placid Oil—has over half a century developed into a robust network of infrastructure, pipelines, and subsurface expertise. The L10-A platform, now owned by Eni, still produces natural gas. It is also known as La Grande Dame. Since then, gas has been transported from sea to shore via the Noordgastransport (NGT) pipeline, directly to Uithuizen for further processing. Currently, around 160 production platforms remain active in the North Sea.
Dutch natural gas as a foundation for the energy transition
The Netherlands is working towards a fully sustainable energy system. For now, domestic gas production remains crucial. Eighty percent of households depend on gas to meet their heating needs. Dutch gas is also 30 to 50 percent cleaner than imported LNG, as it is produced closer to home, requires less transport, and falls under stricter environmental standards. Domestic production also means greater control over supply security and reduced geopolitical dependency.
Verburg: “After 50 years, our sector is not aiming to continue producing gas for another 50 years. We are part of the energy transition and are taking our responsibility. Because Dutch natural gas remains the least climate-damaging and safest choice for as long as fossil energy is still needed.”
An additional benefit of decades of gas production is the knowledge of the subsurface, which is now being used for projects such as CO₂ storage. Some infrastructure can also be repurposed to play a role in the new energy system.
Since 2018, NGT has been exploring how its gas network can be repurposed for sustainable energy. “We are exploring offshore CO₂ and hydrogen transport,” says Pierre Bartholomeus, managing director of NGT. This resulted in a Certificate of Fitness for pure hydrogen transport from the independent certification institute Bureau Veritas in 2022. Additionally, reuse and scenario studies for the development of an offshore hydrogen network have been completed in collaboration with engineering and consulting firms Enersea and Guidehouse.
The role of gas is changing but remains important
Natural gas from the North Sea remains valuable for the time being. It is not only cleaner and safer, but also essential for the security of supply for households and industry. When electricity from solar and wind is not available, natural gas ensures that the Netherlands continues to be powered.
