Hydrogen is a versatile energy carrier that plays a key role in making industrial processes more sustainable. In our region, hydrogen is already produced and used on a large scale. In fact, our region is home to the largest hydrogen cluster in the Benelux. Within the Hydrogen theme, the focus is on replacing grey hydrogen – produced with fossil energy – with low-carbon variants such as blue and green hydrogen. Collaboration on this theme contributes to the realisation of a future-proof, CO₂-free hydrogen system.

This offers enormous opportunities for our region. Thanks to its strategic location, the availability of renewable energy and a strong industrial cluster, the region can develop into a leading hydrogen hub in Europe. Local production, import, export and use of hydrogen are connected via a cross-border infrastructure network of pipelines and logistics connections. This strengthens the competitive position of the region and accelerates the energy transition.

Essential success factors for the hydrogen transition are the availability of sufficient sustainable electricity, a robust infrastructure for production, storage and transport, and intensive collaboration between governments, grid operators, companies and knowledge institutions. Only by properly coordinating these elements can hydrogen develop into a vehicle for sustainable growth for the region.

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is a technology aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions by capturing carbon dioxide from industrial processes, subsequently reusing it in processes and new products or (permanently) storing it. This approach plays a crucial role in the transition to a CO₂-neutral economy, especially for industries where CO₂ emissions are unavoidable. An important theme for our cross-border Scheldt Delta region and essential for achieving the climate objectives and maintaining a competitive industry in the region.

​The success of CCUS implementation strongly depends on various preconditions, such as a robust and integrated infrastructure, a favourable policy and financial framework and social acceptance. Within Smart Delta Resources, industry, port, knowledge institutions, governments and grid operators collaborate on both technical initiatives and creating the right conditions around the CCUS theme.

In industry, residual heat is released during production processes, which can be used for other applications instead of being lost. Within the theme of Heat, we are working on the reuse of this industrial residual heat, both for heating buildings in the region and for other industrial processes. This can create an efficient and sustainable heating system in which energy is reused intelligently.

This approach offers great opportunities for the cross-border Scheldt Delta region. By linking existing and new heating networks to industrial sources, residential areas, offices and other companies can be heated sustainably. In addition, the mutual sharing of heat between companies strengthens regional cooperation and contributes to the reduction of CO₂ emissions.

To realize this ambition, a number of conditions are essential: a reliable infrastructure for heat transport, close cooperation between public and private parties, and appropriate legislation and regulations that enable cross-border use of heat. Only with a joint effort can heat from industry develop into a driving force in the sustainability of our region.

Electrification is an important means of making industrial processes more sustainable. By replacing fossil fuels with electricity from renewable sources, greenhouse gas emissions can be drastically reduced. This requires major adjustments to the energy system, with not only the demand for, but also the supply of electricity increasing significantly.

Electrification is of strategic importance to our industrial cluster. The region has a strong industrial base and a growing supply of sustainable energy from solar, nuclear and wind, both on land and at sea. By using these sources intelligently and linking them to industrial users, a robust and future-proof energy system is created that strengthens the competitiveness of the region.

The successful application of electrification requires a number of preconditions: a reliable and sufficiently heavy electricity grid, sufficient landings of wind at sea, and good coordination between grid operators, governments and the business community. System integration and cross-border cooperation are also essential to fully utilise the potential of electrification in the transition to a climate-neutral industry.

When carbon-containing residual flows from industry, waste and biobased sources are recovered and reused, we speak of circular carbon. The aim of this is to gradually replace fossil raw materials with renewable and circular alternatives. Within Smart Delta Resources, closed industrial carbon chains are being built in collaboration. Technologies such as gasification and pyrolysis play a central role in this, whereby carbon from waste or biomass is converted into new raw materials for high-quality applications.

For the Scheldt Delta region, with its strong industrial base and good logistical connections, circular carbon offers great opportunities. The region has a broad mix of residual flows and sectors, which allows chain collaboration and synergy between fossil-free, recycled and biobased raw materials to come into their own. In this way, the region can play a pioneering role in the scaling up of circular value chains.

In order to utilise this potential, a number of preconditions are essential: recognition of chemical recycling and biobased raw materials within regulations, the removal of policy barriers such as the 'end-of-waste status', a sound business case and active public-private partnership. By investing in innovation, infrastructure and system integration, circular carbon can become a structural pillar of the sustainable industry in the region.

Water is of strategic importance for the sustainability of industrial processes in our region. It is not only an indispensable raw material for applications such as cooling, steam production and electrolysis, but also plays a central role in the broader raw materials transition. Within Smart Delta Resources, the focus is on reducing the use of primary raw materials, building circular chains and optimising water flows within the industrial cluster is an important part of this.

The availability of sufficient fresh water is increasingly under pressure. A good balance between supply and demand of industrially suitable fresh water is essential to ensure continuity, especially in times of drought or changing climatic conditions. Circular water use and reuse of process water offer opportunities to reduce dependence on primary water sources and to accelerate sustainability goals. Collaboration

, innovation and infrastructure are crucial success factors to achieve this. By connecting companies, governments, water boards and knowledge institutions, space is created for smart solutions in the field of water reuse, buffering and shared systems. In this way, the region can develop into an example of future-proof and circular water management in an industrial context.

Innovation is essential for realising a future-proof and competitive industry in our region. New technologies, smart processes and groundbreaking collaborations form the basis for the transition to a climate-neutral, circular economy. Within Smart Delta Resources, innovation is not a goal in itself, but a structural part of the way in which we collaborate on themes such as hydrogen, electrification, circularity, heat, water and CO₂ reduction.

Innovation is of strategic importance for our region. The region is home to a versatile industrial ecosystem with room for experimentation, scaling up and knowledge sharing. By actively connecting innovation with existing infrastructure, industrial activities and logistics networks, the potential for sustainable growth is maximised.

Successful innovation requires more than just technology. Preconditions such as targeted investments, a stimulating regulatory framework, access to talent and active public-private partnerships are crucial. By bringing these elements together, the region functions as a testing ground and accelerator of industrial solutions that are also valuable internationally.

An effective and future-oriented government policy is essential for realizing a sustainable and competitive industry. Within Smart Delta Resources, we collaborate on a strategic policy contribution at regional (Zeeland and Flanders), national (Netherlands and Belgium) and European level. By linking policy development to the practice of the industry, space is created for innovation, investments and large-scale sustainability.

Smart Delta Resources has a Dutch organisation (SDR NL) and a Belgian organisation (SDR Flanders), both working together on cross-border solutions for a future-proof, sustainable industry in the Flemish-Dutch Scheldt Delta region.