HyCARB receives €45.7 million to drive green hydrogen innovation, supporting sustainable transformation in the Dutch chemical industry.
The HyCARB project, led by the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), has received a significant boost with the award of €45.7 million in funding to support its green hydrogen research and development goals. This initiative, titled “Hydrogen and Green Electrons for Carbon-Based Chemistry,” is part of a broader push by the Netherlands to decarbonize its industrial base, particularly the chemical sector, which remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels. The funding is provided through a joint effort by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and the National Growth Fund programme GroenvermogenNL.
The HyCARB consortium is a large and diverse collaboration involving key players across the research and industrial spectrum. It brings together nine universities, five universities of applied sciences, three national research institutes, and thirty private-sector companies, including a mix of large corporations, innovative start-ups, and growing scale-ups. This multidisciplinary alliance is designed to foster innovation and accelerate the development of sustainable technologies that can dramatically reduce the chemical industry’s carbon footprint.
The chemical industry is currently one of the largest consumers of fossil raw materials such as oil and natural gas. Consequently, it is responsible for a significant share of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. To remain competitive in a future driven by climate-conscious policies and sustainable practices, the sector must adopt cleaner alternatives. HyCARB aims to be a catalyst in this transformation by developing breakthrough technologies that utilize green hydrogen and renewable electricity—referred to as green electrons—for key chemical processes.
The project’s core technological focus areas include the development of new, integrated hydrogenation processes that can operate more efficiently and cleanly. It will also advance CO2 electrolysis systems and high-temperature reactors powered by electricity rather than fossil fuels. These innovations are expected to enable more sustainable production pathways while maintaining the high performance required by the chemical sector. In parallel, the project will invest in the enhancement of analytical instrumentation and the upskilling of laboratory professionals. A key goal is to cultivate a new generation of researchers and engineers equipped to lead future sustainable transitions in the chemical field.
The total investment of €45.7 million is comprised of €35.3 million in public funding from NWO and the GroenvermogenNL programme, with an additional €10.3 million contributed by the participating institutions and companies through co-financing arrangements. This blend of public and private investment highlights the strategic importance of the HyCARB project to both national economic development and environmental objectives.
Ultimately, HyCARB aims to deliver internationally recognized innovations while positioning the Netherlands at the forefront of sustainable chemical manufacturing. By bridging the gap between academic research and practical industry applications, the project supports both climate goals and industrial competitiveness.
