Japanese business delegation visits hydrogen projects in north

24 August 2022

HY-5 hydrogen initiative shows visitors north Germany's key projects

The HY-5 hydrogen initiative is presenting north Germany's most important hydrogen projects to a delegation of leading Japanese business representatives from August 22-26, 2022. The delegation will visit projects in Bremen, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Hamburg with local business representatives and scientists, HY-5 was set up by the five north German states to make northern Germany Europe's top hydrogen centre.

Five states, over 12 projects

The trip began at Airbus in Bremen followed by Ecomat and the hydrogen test field in Bremerhaven. The tour then goes to EWE's Huntdorf gas storage facility near Oldenburg in Lower Saxony and from there to Faun where hydrogen-powered vehicles are manufactured. The visitors will also view the Heide refinery, the HyScale 100 and Westküste 100 projects and the Chemcoast Park Brunsbüttel in Schleswig-Holstein. Later, the delegation will visit the Apex Group and the Rostock City Port as well as the Leibnitz Institute for Plasma Research and Technology in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania where the focus is on the Campfire research project. Hamburg is the last stop on the tour with a visit to the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY) research centre. Clean Logistics will outline the production of hydrogen trucks during the visit. The trip should bring together German and Japanese business representatives to discuss possible collaborations and settlement options.

Hamburg as pioneer of a green hydrogen sector

"Hamburg is one of the global pioneers of this future technology and aims to set up the required infrastructure by 2030," said Michael Westhagemann, Senator for Economics. Hamburg is the perfect place for developing new business models and to produce hydrogen sustainably given the concentrated know-how along the entire value chain and proximity to the most efficient renewable energy regions, he noted. "As one of the most important locations for Japan in Germany, we see great potential to further expand our partnership in this joint innovation area as well," Westhagemann added.

North Germany to become Europe's leading hydrogen region

During the trip, emphasis will be on hydrogen projects across several federal states. North Germany is already an important, global hydrogen region and has many advantages, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said in 2019. Around 27 hydrogen projects underway in north Germany are on EU's Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) funding list.

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