Hydrogen Cross Border Conference 2024: cross-border about hydrogen
The future of energy supply was the central theme at the German-Dutch Cross Border Hydrogen Conference in Aurich (Germany) last Wednesday and Thursday. More than 200 representatives from politics, business and science gathered at the fourth Hydrogen Cross Border Conference (HCBC) to discuss the future of the hydrogen economy in northwest Germany and the northern Netherlands, and beyond. Across national borders, language barriers and cultural differences, the representatives from both countries agreed on one thing above all: renewable hydrogen is and will remain the key to the energy transition and is essential to meet common climate goals. “Climate change does not stop at national borders and that also applies to the topic of hydrogen,” said Olaf Meinen, Landrat district administrator of the Landkreis Aurich, as he welcomed the German and Dutch guests.
What could a well-functioning, regional hydrogen value chain look like? What are the benefits for citizens? And in view of the €60 billion shortfall in Germany’s climate fund at the end of last year, many people wondered: what framework conditions can and should legislators create to push the hydrogen economy forward? And what prospects are there using research and development and digital solutions to make the use of hydrogen more economical and thus more competitive with other energy sources? These and other questions were discussed during the day.
Germany keeps investing
Christian Meyer, Lower Saxony’s minister for the environment, climate protection and energy, described renewable hydrogen as a “valuable and highly sought-after” energy source. He emphasised that it would bring economic progress for those who invest in this field at an early stage. According to the minister, the German government is aware of the importance of hydrogen and therefore continues to invest in network expansion and innovation, even with the current tight budget situation. The minister promised that made commitments would be honoured. A promise that was greeted with applause by the participants. Because here, too, it was agreed that without the necessary impulses from politicians and appropriate regulation, things would not work out.
Hydrogen opportunity for citizens
Johan Hamster, deputy of the province of Groningen, and his counterpart from the province of Drenthe, Henk Jumelet, had travelled to the conference along with a large number of entrepreneurs and other hydrogen parties from the Netherlands. “We want the region where the energy comes from to benefit from it too and believe that hydrogen is an opportunity for our citizens,” he said. A province that has always provided energy for the Netherlands is now the region with the highest energy poverty, where people can no longer pay their bills. This energy poverty must be solved,” Hamster said. The power of change lies in cross-border cooperation, Jumelet added. This was also emphasised by Marieke Abbink-Pellenbarg of New Energy Coalition. “Cooperation starts with meeting each other. Today’s conference is a good step in that direction,” Abbink said.
Fossil fuels not subsidised
From Brussels, Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of the Hydrogen Europe Organisation, was a guest. In the future, the German-Dutch border region will be the “power centre of the European Union when it comes to the hydrogen economy”, Chatzimarkakis said. Renewable hydrogen is now shifting to a central position in the energy transition but at the same time he stressed that this cannot be achieved if gas and fossil fuels continue to be subsidised. This needs to be rethought. “Those who prioritise renewable energy, as the European Union does, should also make hydrogen a priority,” Chatzimarkakis said. The practical questions and issues involved in implementing the hydrogen economy were discussed in detail later that day in sessions on cost and financing, technology and digitalisation.
Day two of the conference included a field trip to Groningen with a visit to Holthausen Energy Points (manufacturer of tank systems), the ENTRANCE expertise centre for energy, the DNV technology centre and a tour of the “zero emission coach boat”.
About Hydrogen Cross Border Conference
The Hydrogen Cross Border Conference is an annual conference on developments in the hydrogen economy on both sides of the German-Dutch border. The HCBC 2024 was organised by, among others, the Initiative H2-Ostfriesland, the H2-Region Emsland, MARIKO GmbH, FME, OLEC e.V. and New Energy Coalition. Funding was provided by the organising partners and the State of Lower Saxony, the economic development agency of the Aurich district and the province of Groningen, the Green Shipping Wadden Sea project and EWE.
