World Hydrogen Summit 2026

Join us for the International Workshop on Innovations in Sustainable Fuels, Chemicals, and Energy Carriers, on May 19, 2026, in Rotterdam.

The workshop is organised into two main sessions:

• Electrochemical Session
• Production and Application Session (with a focus on thermochemical processes)

Workshop highlights

• Explore the newest developments and technology options in sustainable fuels and chemicals.
• Learn about brand-new technologies from both start-ups and established companies.
• Discuss scale-up strategies and roadmaps for industrial implementation.
• Participate in interactive discussions and expand your professional network.

Why attend?

This workshop offers practical knowledge, strategic insights, and the chance to connect with leading researchers and industry representatives.

Together with the Port of Rotterdam, we supported the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) in designing the program of this workshop.

Unlocking hydrogen opportunities in the Rotterdam Region

Rotterdam Partners and InnovationQuarter are delighted to host another special breakfast event during the World Hydrogen Summit 2026. Join us on Wednesday the 20th of May in Rotterdam to hear more about hydrogen developments in the Province of South-Holland and explore the opportunities to become part of this thriving ecosystem.

During the session, expert speakers will provide an overview of key developments within the hydrogen sector, followed by a closer look at test and production sites, permitting processes, and policy developments across the region.

TNO provides as part of this session insights in the Applied Scientific Research activities in the field of hydrogen and Power-to-X, linked to the contribution to the development of the region.

If you are interested in understanding how your company can become part of this thriving ecosystem, join us for breakfast to engage with the network and gain valuable insight into ongoing developments and future possibilities.

On 20 May, LAUNCH₂ will be officially launched: the regional innovation initiative for hydrogen (and hydrogen carriers) in Zuid‑Holland, building on the former EHH programme. LAUNCH₂ brings together government, the port, industry and knowledge institutions to support the development and scaling up of hydrogen innovations. TNO is a participating partner in this collaboration.

The launch will take place during the World Hydrogen Summit 2026 and marks an important step in strengthening regional cooperation. An official signing moment will form part of the programme.

LAUNCH₂ also provides a foundation for next steps in ongoing and new initiatives, including FLIE.

• Datum en tijd: 20 mei 16:30-17:30, dock 15
• With TNO expert Benjamin Schoemaker

Task 50 of the IEA Hydrogen Technology Collaboration Programme (H2TCP) focuses on international hydrogen supply chains. Research institutes and companies worldwide use models to assess costs and emissions of transporting hydrogen and compare transport options and exporting regions.

However, existing models show significant differences. Task 50 therefore compares modelling approaches from various institutes to improve international consistency. With input from industry partners, we will conduct a joint analysis aimed at providing policy advice and identifying cost reduction opportunities. In this session, we will present the intermediate results of Task 50, which is due to finish at the end of 2026.

HEROW (Hydrogen Empowering Revolutionary Offshore Wind) is a knowledge platform focused on the development of offshore hydrogen production as a key driver for further scaling up offshore wind. During the HEROW event at the World Hydrogen Summit, we bring together stakeholders from the offshore sector for targeted knowledge sharing and a joint interpretation of the most important developments in offshore hydrogen.

The event is designed as an interactive setting in which experiences, insights and lessons learned from projects and research are shared. Its aim is to jointly build and deepen knowledge, and to strengthen connections with ongoing and future offshore initiatives.

TNO and TKI Offshore Energy will again coorganise the HEROW seminar at the World Hydrogen Summit. Following the success of previous editions, we will bring together leading experts to share the latest developments in offshore hydrogen production.

Speakers from international governments and major offshore hydrogen projects will present the newest progress, results and lessons learned.

The session offers a unique view into largescale offshore hydrogen production, including insights on technology, regulation, infrastructure and system integration.

The HEROW seminar will take place on Thursday morning, 21 May.

Registration will open later via the HEROW website: HEROW – Hydrogen Empowering Revolutionary Offshore Wind.

TNO will contribute to the different CCUS side events that will be organized on Thursday May 21st and Friday May 22nd. CCUS side events and international collaboration at WHS 2026:

Thursday 21 May — CCUS activities

🕥 10:30–12:30 | CCUS Tech Stage
Pitch session with 8 companies from the Dutch CCUS business and innovation community. TNO will be one of the pitching organisations, followed by networking opportunities.
🕐 13:00–14:00 | Closed (or exclusive) CCUS session with Gulf region delegation
Dialogue between the Dutch CCUS business and innovation community, including TNO.
🕓 15:30-17:00 | Closed (or exclusive) CCUS session with Canadian delegation
Two workshops, including CO₂ transport, facilitated by Gasunie and TNO.

May 22nd afternoon — CCUS/CDR Knowledge sharing at TNO (Rijswijk)

🕐 13:00–15:00
Joint knowledge sharing session with PTRC and the International CCS Knowledge Centre, covering:
• Capture & CDR
• Transport & storage
• Public perception
Participants will also have the opportunity to visit TNO’s CCUS test facilities.

VoltaChem has adopted a new strategic direction: we now operate as a business community fully focused on the PowertoX domain. We bring together companies aiming to take a leading role in the development, application and upscaling of PowertoX technologies.

Within the community, technology developers, industrial end users, energy companies and strategic partners collaborate on solutions that make PowertoX commercially scalable, technically feasible and futureproof.

What makes VoltaChem unique:

The VoltaChem Business Community offers members:

• Access to practical knowledge on electrochemical processes, hydrogen production, efuels, echemicals and PowertoX integration in industrial value chains.

• A business innovation platform for jointly addressing challenges, opportunities and breakthroughs in PowertoX.

• Communitydriven roadmaps and working groups focusing on market development, technology readiness and system integration.

• Access to relevant ecosystems and facilities such as field labs, pilot setups and demonstration sites within TNO and partner networks.

• Strategic matchmaking between companies exploring investment opportunities, cooperation pathways or new value chains.

Key focus areas of the community:

Within the TNO–VoltaChem Business Community, we work on concrete themes such as:

• Commercialisation and scaling of electrolysis technology

• Development of efuels and echemicals

• Application of hydrogen and PowertoX in industrial processes

• Valuechain development from production to distribution and application

• Market dynamics, business models and policy frameworks for PowertoX

As a community, we act as a catalyst for the development of a mature PowertoX sector and therefore for the sustainable industry of the future in the Netherlands and Europe.

TNO is preparing a briefing paper that maps priority opportunities for cooperation between the Netherlands and Brazil on strategic value chains to help realise and strengthen industrial decarbonisation pathways.

The paper will outline the rationale, key enabling conditions, shared risks, and priority actions for policy and ecosystem coordination, covering themes such as low carbon materials, circular carbon, hydrogen derivatives and integrated value chains.

The paper will be launched at the World Hydrogen Summit 2026.

During the World Hydrogen Summit, TNO and GroenvermogenNL will present a new policy and innovation paper to the Minister or a representative of the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth (KGG).

The paper highlights the need for strengthened national and international cooperation to scale up electrolysis technology faster, more cost effectively and more reliably. A crucial step towards a robust hydrogen economy.

By presenting this paper, TNO and GroenvermogenNL emphasise the importance of a joint approach to strengthen and accelerate the Netherlands’ international position in the growing electrolysis and hydrogen value chain.

With the official launch of COPE (Collaborative Platform for Electrolysis), GroenvermogenNL and TNO strengthen national and international cooperation on electrolysis and industrial electrification.

COPE brings together industry, technology developers, research institutes and governments to scale up electrolysis more rapidly, reduce risks, and better connect innovation to practical applications.

The platform focuses on:

• Accelerating nextgeneration electrolysis technologies

• Upscaling from lab results to demonstration and industrial scale

• System integration with hydrogen production, storage and infrastructure

• International alignment with European networks, corridors and policy frameworks

COPE will form a strategic foundation for the future hydrogen and electrification value chain.