The RH2INE-interview: Diederick Luijten

From talking to tangible: Why standardisation will decide hydrogen's future on inland waterways

For more than 35 years, Diederick Luijten has worked at the forefront of the industrial gases and hydrogen sector. After an international executive career at Air Liquide - leading businesses across Europe and helping accelerate hydrogen mobility - he now dedicates his expertise to what drives him most: bringing stakeholders together to turn ambitious ideas into practical solutions.

Within RH2INE, he leads the standardisation effort for swappable hydrogen tank containers. His goal is clear: develop an open, safe and certified standard that enables hydrogen to move seamlessly by inland waterway, road and rail. With the first ‘Approval in Principle’ targeted this summer, the race is on. 

You've spent more than three decades in the industrial gases sector. What brought you to RH2INE?

I've spent most of my career with Air Liquide in international executive roles after studying Transport Engineering and doing an MBA in Transport and Logistics. Along the way in my industrial gas career, I became deeply involved in hydrogen, particularly in projects focused on accelerating the market for heavy-duty mobility. Innovation has always been a common thread - developing new technologies together with R&D teams and bringing them into real applications.

I was also instrumental in building HyMobility, where companies from across the hydrogen value chain collaborate to accelerate hydrogen mobility. That experience taught me that real progress only happens when you connect the right people around a shared objective. The development of hydrogen mobility markets can't be done alone!

How did your collaboration with RH2INE begin?

When I announced I was leaving Air Liquide, I let WaterstofNet know I was available. We already knew each other through projects like HyTrucks and Hydrogen in Logistics, so joining RH2INE was a natural next step. Apart from this I have been very involved in inland shipping projects where we built the first swappable containers already 5 years ago and worked within the inland and maritime ecosystem.

What attracted me was the ambition to move beyond individual projects and create something that benefits the entire market. It is all about making a real impact!

You have been involved with RH2INE almost from the beginning. What makes the initiative different today?

I actually attended RH2INE meetings several years ago already. Back then there was a lot of discussion, but I'm someone who prefers building things rather than only talking about them.

Today the atmosphere is different. Under WaterstofNet's coordination there's a strong focus on delivering concrete results. Companies are working together to develop standardised technology for the hydrogen market and, most importantly, a common standard that everyone can use. That's exactly what the inland shipping sector needs.

We also continuously validate our work with organisations such as the European Industrial Gases Association (EIGA) and notified bodies, making sure the solutions fit both industry practice and future regulations.

What exactly are you working on within RH2INE?

I'm responsible for the energy side of the swappable container concept - the part that eventually supplies fuel to the vessel in an efficient way.

Together with our partners in the project we're developing an open standard for hydrogen tank containers in both 20-foot and 40-foot formats. We're defining the interfaces, safety components and connection systems while keeping one principle in mind: design to cost without compromising safety.

The standard will be public and endorsed by industries and the inland shipping communities or naval architects. Manufacturers remain free to develop their own solutions, as long as they comply with the specifications, rules and regulations.

Ultimately, standardisation creates confidence. Operators know what they're buying, suppliers know what they're building, and investors know what they're investing in.

Safety is clearly a major part of that work.

Absolutely. Hydrogen behaves differently from conventional fuels, so every aspect must be carefully considered.

We're looking at gas detection, venting systems, thermal loads, shielding of the container, emergency situations and regulatory compliance. Every design choice must contribute to making hydrogen as safe - and as trusted - as possible. Trust is just as important as technology.

How do you organise such a complex development process toward the ‘Approval in Principle’?

We work very intensively. Our expert group meets twice every week for two-hour sessions. We manage detailed action lists and make sure everyone contributes where their expertise is strongest.

Around ten companies are actively involved, with specialists from each organisation. Lloyd's Register is performing the independent assessment. Since they certify around 95% of newly built vessels in the Rhine delta, we deliberately chose one of the most rigorous notified bodies available. Everyone brings a different piece of the puzzle.

What milestone are you aiming to achieve this summer?

Our target is obtaining an Approval in Principle (AiP) for the open standard.

Today, a hydrogen container transported as cargo cannot simply become part of a ship's fuel system. Existing regulations don't fully cover that transition.

That's why we're developing a concept that complies with the extensive body of existing ISO standards and maritime regulations. We're talking about more than two thousand pages of requirements covering everything from material compatibility with hydrogen to wave loads, wind forces and heat exposure.

An Approval in Principle demonstrates that the concept is technically sound before detailed engineering begins. Once we have that validation, companies can confidently start designing and building according to the approved concept.

An important advantage is that the container won't only be suitable for inland shipping. It will also comply with road and rail transport requirements, making it a truly multimodal solution that can even be used for supplying hydrogen refuelling stations for mobility.

Where do the biggest challenges still lie?

Resources are always limited, and sometimes different sectors have different priorities. For example, road transport has dimensional constraints that don't exist in shipping. There are also discussions about handling procedures, crane operations and installation methods.

My role is to bring everyone together around facts. Sometimes the technically most efficient solution isn't the best choice if it creates legal uncertainty or liability issues later. Then you look for the best compromise that everyone can support. The objective is always the same: the lowest investment cost per kilogram of safely stored hydrogen.

How would you describe your leadership style?

I listen carefully to everyone, but I also believe decisions have to be made with a good drive forward to achieve earlier set goals. I'm very result-oriented. I genuinely enjoy making progress. At the same time, understanding why people have certain concerns is essential. I'm never attached to my own opinion if someone presents better arguments.

Experience helps as well. After many years in this field, I understand what designers, manufacturers and operators are worried about. That creates trust and allows us to move faster together. It enables me to lead the team forward, building on mutual trust while keeping everyone focused on delivering results.

What do you ultimately hope to achieve?

For me, RH2INE is much bigger than developing a technical standard. We're building all the pieces that a hydrogen market needs: standardisation, certification, regulations, financing, partnerships and support from governments. Together those building blocks create market acceleration.

Personally, I'd like to see at least 50 hydrogen-powered vessels operating on the Rhine before 2030. That's the kind of ambition we should have.

The energy transition is what motivates me every day. If we can create the conditions that allow hydrogen to scale, we've done something that will have a lasting impact far beyond this project while protecting the globe for next generations! 
 

Contact: diederick.luijten.extern@waterstofnet.eu