European Green Deal and hydrogen - What contribution can regions make? Lower Saxony as a hydrogen model region in Europe

European Green Deal and hydrogen - What contribution can regions make? Lower Saxony as a hydrogen model region in Europe
On 30 November 2021, Birgit Honé, Lower Saxony's Minister for Federal and European Affairs and Regional Affairs, invited to the event. European Green Deal and hydrogen - What contribution can regions make? Lower Saxony as a hydrogen model region in Europe. Claudia Maier from the Representation of the State of Lower Saxony to the European Unionreports on the results of the event for us:
"Lower Saxony has set itself ambitious goals and wants to become a national leader in the production of hydrogen. Viola von Cramon-Taubadel (MEP), Dr Karl Soukup ( EU-COM, Deputy Director General of DG Competition), Tudor Constantinescu (EU-COM, Principal Advisor to the Director General of DG Energy) and Bart Biebuyck (Director of FCH JU) discussed how this can be achieved and where the potentials lie, under the moderation of Gudrun Engel (ARD Studio Brussels).
As the No. 1 wind energy state, Lower Saxony has sufficient wind capacities. Coupled with the existing energy industry infrastructures for the production, transport and storage of hydrogen, as well as a multitude of possible applications in industry and mobility, Lower Sax ony is well placed to become the centre of a green hydrogen economy in Germany and Europe. In particular, green hydrogen helps with the energy transition, as the electricity used comes from renewable energies such as wind power and is thus CO2-free. The use of hydrogen in the steel industry, but also in the basic materials and chemical industries, as well as in the transport sector, in heavy goods, rail or air transport, will be indispensable in the future. Other options for decarbonisation do not yet offer realistic and affordable solutions. Hydrogen therefore has a decisive role to play - especially for industry - in the exit from the world of fossil fuels.
There are already numerous examples in Lower Saxony that show that this technology works. At the event, major companies such as Salzgitter (SALCOS project) or EWE (Clean Hydrogen Coastline) presented showcase projects for the development of a green hydrogen economy. These companies as well as other stakeholders such as the H2 region Emsland/Lingen or the TU-Braunschweig have been very intensively involved in the regional and Europe-wide establishment of value chains for quite some time. Lower Saxony thus has impressive potential in the field of green hydrogen, both for production, storage and use. The entire value chain of green hydrogen can be established in Niedersachsen in close proximity and thus achieve positive regional effects for growth and jobs in line with climate protection and the goals of the EU Green Deal. In Europe, the course is being set for the legal framework and the promotion of hydrogen technology!
That is why the companies are also calling on the EU to bring the Fit for 55package and the gas market package announced for the end of the year to life as quickly as possible. They all have to promote the hydrogen market and accelerate the development of a hydrogen infrastructure with the rededication of natural gas pipelines. The IPCEI projects still to be approved by the Commission are also related to this, in order to quickly and actively drive the change towards a climate-neutral Europe with hydrogen."