The Hydrogen General Assembly is the key event on the current status of hydrogen and fuel cell technology as well as market-ready products. The two-day hybrid conference begins today, and on the second day, the Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, Dr. Volker Wissing, will summarize the funding efforts and other activities of his ministry.
The Hydrogen General Assembly is regarded as a key event on the current status of hydrogen and fuel cell technology and market-ready products. It shines a spotlight on the various activities and projects in the field. The event’s focus is on the implementation of the National Hydrogen Strategy, which will be discussed at top political level. The Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, Dr. Volker Wissing, will participate in the second day of the conference.
Dr. Volker Wissing, Federal Minister for Digital and Transport: “The current geopolitical situation makes it clear how important the rapid construction of a functioning hydrogen economy is. We need hydrogen in mobility as well in order to become less dependent on fossil fuels. Hydrogen has been on the path to the mass market for some time now. The Hydrogen General Assembly highlights our progress – from hydrogen-powered long-distance buses and initial demonstrations in aviation and shipping, to stationary systems for the supply of critical infrastructure.”
The conference will advance knowledge transfer across the sectors and strengthen industry and research through bundling the network. Specific challenges for the market ramp-up of the technologies are to be identified and solutions to potential obstacles developed through discussions with the experts present.
Kurt-Christoph von Knobelsdorff, CEO (Spokesperson) NOW GmbH: “An energy system of the future based on renewables needs green molecules to store renewable energy (which has a fluctuating level of generation) and to transport it. Hydrogen and its derivatives will become a commodity and the basis for global trade in energy sources. From an industry policy point of view, it is therefore important to advance all technologies that are required for the use of hydrogen in its various applications as well. For this reason, it’s a natural consequence that the BMDV continues to drive forward the development of fuel cell technology via its funding instruments. The fruits of its labour so far will be presented at the Hydrogen General Assembly.”
National Hydrogen Strategy as a handbook
Essential for the course set by the federal government is the orientation of the National Hydrogen Strategy. The General Assembly represents an opportunity here to discuss the overarching strategic themes in hydrogen, like the further development of the National Hydrogen Strategy. Among other goals, the generation capacities for green hydrogen should double from 5 to 10 gigawatts by 2030. The associated objective is clear: a market for green hydrogen is to be established and value chains created, so that Germany can assert its leadership position in hydrogen technology in an international context.
Technology neutrality as a decisive approach
Being open to all technologies remains one of the founding principles of all efforts. Politics must not block off any technological path in order to achieve its ambitious objectives. This applies in particular to hydrogen applications in transport. Hydrogen can and must make a major contribution here to decarbonisation, either directly via use in fuel cells or in order to manufacture synthetic fuels. Vehicles are the main area of application here, as they cover long distances or have to transport heavy loads. Furthermore, short refuelling times are a decisive advantage for many application areas. Technology openness means in this context: not competition between drive technologies, but technologies that complement each other and using them in a way that exploits their respective strengths.
As a hybrid event with both in-person attendance and online live transmission, participation is possible for all interested conference attendees. The German Hydrogen General Assembly is organized by NOW GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport.
Deutsche Wasserstoff-Vollversammlung
on 6 and 7 July 2022, 9am-5am each day
in Berlin (Hilton Berlin Gendarmenmarkt) and online