Konstanz, 28 September 2021 – Application examples from Baden-Württemberg and Switzerland are the focus of the first German-Swiss H2 forum, which today offers 373 participants (166 on location) from both countries a platform for exchange on the status of hydrogen technology.

Hydrogen as an energy carrier is an important component of the energy transition. The topic has taken hold on the municipal and federal state level and in industrial development, numerous projects are already now marketable. The next step on the path to the successful transformation of the energy system is to bring supply and demand together and anchor them locally. The forum is contributing to this, in that it provides companies, research institutions, associations, administrations and municipal operators with the opportunity to make contact with each other.

In addition to the political framework within which hydrogen technology must establish itself, the conference presents the latest findings from the scientific and research fields. Specific examples of application in potential markets provide a blueprint for using the technology in Germany and Switzerland.

Kurt-Christoph von Knobelsdorff, Managing Director (Spokesperson) NOW GmbH: “Entering a hydrogen economy is a prerequisite for a climate-neutral energy system. Over the course of this far-reaching transformation, there will be new mobility and industry structures and thus new added value and jobs that are fit for the future. We can best exploit this opportunity when we broaden our national view and cooperate on an international level. The forum makes an important contribution in promoting cross-border cooperation between stakeholders from industry, research and politics.”

Benoît Revaz, Director of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy – SFOE: “Hydrogen has gained in importance in recent years internationally. In Switzerland, hydrogen can contribute significantly to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It will be mainly used in heavy-duty transport and in industry. The Swiss Federal Office of Energy – SFOE (Bundesamt für Energie – BFE) actively supports research on fuel cells and hydrogen. At present around 100 research and pilot projects are underway. The SFOE is currently developing a hydrogen roadmap for Switzerland, for which international cooperation is crucial. We welcome opportunities like the H2 forum that facilitate valuable exchange between our countries.”

The German-Swiss H2 forum is jointly organised by NOW GmbH and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. The event is supported by Avenergy Suisse, Empa and e-mobil BW as well as Quade & Zurfluh Zürich and Peter Sauber Agentur Stuttgart.