Hydrogen: A risk to a natural gas phase-out in the Netherlands?

Abstract

1 Natural Gas Lock-in: Does Hydrogen Pose a Risk to a Natural Gas Phase-out in the Netherlands? Submitted By: Douwe C. Roest Charles University Prague A Master Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of The Requirements for A Master in European Politics and Society Master of Arts Submitted to: Dr. Eliška Ullrichová Wordcount: 21.098 2 Abstract Considerable scholarly literature has been dedicated to exploring carbon lock-in, yet limited research exists on the phenomenon of Natural Gas (NG) lock-in and its causes. This study addresses this research gap by conducting an explorative case study of the Netherlands. Specifically, it zooms in on the dynamic interaction between NG and hydrogen, with hydrogen emerging as the leading sustainable molecule to power the energy transition. The study aims to analyze the influence of the established NG regime on the developing hydrogen niche and the subsequent implications of hydrogen's increasing role on NG lock-in. The research combines academic work with grey literature and interview data to support a material and actor analysis through separate techno-economic, political, and socio-technical perspectives. The research finds five significant mechanisms through which existing NG production and consumption shape Dutch production and utilization of hydrogen: 1) the extensive...