At the second plenary meeting of the Association of Hydrogen Regions (BdWR – Bund der Wasserstoffregionen) in Berlin yesterday, an important milestone was set for the advancement of a sustainable hydrogen economy at regional level. Over 40 political representatives from various regions of Germany came together to discuss current developments and concrete proposals for solutions.
The meeting began with a keynote address on current developments in the use of hydrogen in the local economy, followed by a brief introduction and setting out the day’s objectives. A central point of the event was the adoption of a position paper based on the findings of the intensive preparatory work in the regions and the discussions at the first plenary session. The results are concrete approaches to solutions for the economic viability of hydrogen in regional systems as well as for the required distribution network infrastructure. The BdWR’s position paper is to be publicly presented to federal policymakers over the coming months.
Another key item on the agenda was the discussion of a draft statute that paves the way for the official establishment and self-financing of the Association of Hydrogen Regions. The BdWR is thus taking a significant step towards becoming an independent and sustainable organisation that represents the interests of regional players at a federal political level.
District Administrator Dr. Stefan Kerth, Spokesperson for the Association of Hydrogen Regions, commented on the next steps: “The initiative for the Association of Hydrogen Regions has fallen on fertile ground. At today’s plenary session, it was jointly decided to put the BdWR on its own footing, thus initiating the process of founding an association and financing it independently. The plan is for the BdWR to commence operations at the end of the year.”
Looking to the future, Dr. Kerth emphasised the importance of increased cooperation with the federal ministries: “In the transport sector in particular, funding concepts such as HyLand or the KsNI guideline have helped to drive forward stakeholder networks and hydrogen projects in the regions in recent years, which are now ready to implement their concepts. If we now fail to offer the regions prospects for the near future, then we are squandering a great opportunity. The path we have taken to promote implementation must therefore be pursued with great determination. The BdWR has developed a concept that offers all stakeholders in the regions a secure framework for action, from the production of hydrogen to its consumption. We will be presenting this concept shortly and I would like to enter into a constructive dialogue with all ministries involved in order to give the topic of the regional hydrogen economy the attention it deserves in view of its importance. The BdWR is always available as a competent partner.”
The BdWR is composed of political players from German hydrogen regions and the VKU and DVGW associations. The aim is to better represent regional interests by pooling their voices at a national political level.
Source of original information: District of Vorpommern-Rügen
Image credits: Camille Kaletka André