„It is foreseeable that there will be an enormous run on green hydrogen from very different industries. While some would like to argue about distribution priorities today, I would rather focus on an extremely strong and fast expansion of renewable energies and hydrogen infrastructure. If you want to be a leader in Europe and the world, you have to invest massively and, above all, quickly in the hydrogen economy.”

The Hydrogen Society Hamburg recognized the potential of green hydrogen as an energy carrier more than 30 years ago. Since then, the Society has been an active multiplier an initiator in hydrogen matters. We are pleased to see that many projects and activities are now rapidly gaining momentum, helping to create the necessary framework to establish the hydrogen industry on a large scale in northern Germany and beyond. This is the only way we can make the energy transition possible.

Prof. Norbert Aust is a German lawyer, entrepreneur and cultural manager. He is President of the IHK Nord and President of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. Aust is a successful businessman, owner of several theatres, just recently opened his first hotel in Hamburg. In 2018, Aust was honoured with the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon for his dedication and service.

„Renewable based Hydrogen is a key element to achieve our climate targets, full decarbonization in many sectors like industry, transport, or heating is only possible with hydrogen.”
Oliver Weinmann is Managing Director of Vattenfall Innovation GmbH. The subsidiary of Vattenfall GmbH focuses on business development, mainly related to renewable energies. He studied Process Engineering at the RWTH Aachen, followed by a PhD on Solar Thermal Power Plants at DLR in Cologne. In 1992 he started his career at HEW in Hamburg and changed to Vattenfall in 2003 as Head of Innovation Management. In parallel, between 2004 and 2007, he was Managing Director of Vattenfall Renewables GmbH. In 2010 he was appointed as Managing Director of Vattenfall Europe Innovation GmbH.

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Since 2011, Kristina Vogt is Member and chairwoman of DIE LINKE parliamentary group in the Bremen parliament (Bremische Bürgerschaft). Until 2019, she served as Spokeswoman for Education and Internal Affairs and was Member of the ‘Anti-Terrorism Operation’ investigation committee from 2015-2016. As of 2019, she is Minister of Economic Affairs, Labour and Europe of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen.

„Sustainably produced hydrogen and power-to-X bring huge opportunities. They will help Germany become climate-neutral by 2045. This also applies to developing and emerging countries: Emissions are being slowed down there as well, also technologies are being further developed. They are also creating apprenticeships and relevant jobs with a future. That is why the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development is promoting the development of these technologies. Our partner countries benefit from this - but so do we in Europe.”
Norbert Barthle is a directly elected Member of the German Bundestag representing the constituency of Backnang/Schwäbisch Gmünd since 1998 and member of the budget committee of the German Bundestag since 2002. Since 2009, he acts as CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group spokesperson for budgetary policy and as vice-chair of the CDU group of the federal state Baden-Württemberg. From February 2015 until March 2018 he was Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Transport and Digital Infrastructure, while as of March 2018 he serves as Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development and Representative for the German-Greek Assembley (DGV).

Werner Diwald, is the speaker of the board of Deutsche Wasserstoff- und Brennstoffzellen-Verband e.V. (DWV), spokesman of the think tank “performing energy” and a member of the Board of European Hydrogen Association (EHA). In addition, he is the shareholder and CEO of the consulting company ENCON.Europe GmbH. The company advise energy companies, electrolyser manufacture or research institutions in project management of Hydrogen Power Plants and Power to Gas Projects. Also advises the company policy makers in matters relating to  power to gas and sector coupling of renewable energies.

Company statement:
Hydrogen already plays a significant role today and will become even more important in the coming years. To tackle the energy transition, the entire decarbonization and becoming climate neutral, Hydrogen is the essential energy replacing fossil-based energy and fuels.
The usage and application of hydrogen is characterized by its manifoldness. It can be used as an energy source, an energy storage medium, and in sector coupling approaches where renewable electricity cannot be used directly. Further, hydrogen is the basis for further products eg. synthetic fuels, which will be needed for an entire energy transition. Hydrogen is an attractive energy alternative especially for energy intensive sectors. (Heavy) Industries but also the transport modes railway, road traffic and on water have high energy consumption, which need to become cleaner. In a nutshell, Hydrogen is the element which can be used in any form and for any sector to reach the goal of climate neutrality. Next to hydrogen`s advantages regarding our environment and climate, it also gives the opportunity of transforming our economy. New business models offer chances by means of added value, prosperity and employment. The whole value chain of hydrogen features innovation and an international hydrogen market creates new trade relations.
The change of energies needs to be a global change. Therefore, as port we cooperate with companies and other ports on a global scale to thrive the implementation of hydrogen. As a port, we take a central role in the hydrogen economy to take part in the energy transition. We will contribute by the production and import of green hydrogen, ensuring the local and national provision as well as the application within the port area. Within the port area, industries already use hydrogen for production processes and a fuelling station is available for road traffic. Based on the experiences of dealing and handling hydrogen and by take a share in the energy transition, the Port of Hamburg wants to ensure energy security and support sectors reaching their climate goals by implementing the entire green hydrogen value chain.

„Hydrogen is an essential element in the energy transition, especially for North West Europe. It can unlock abundant renewable energy resources in order to realise a net zero world at reasonable cost. The task ahead is large, so let’s think big and act fast!”
Stijn van Els is Director Commercial Delivery at the Port of Rotterdam. He brings with him extensive experience in the energy & industry sectors, including hydrogen. Stijn’s has worked across the globe, including the beautiful city of Hamburg.

When Nikolas Iwan took over the management of H2 MOBILITY Germany in April 2016, the hydrogen start-up had just opened its first station in Wuppertal. Today, H2 MOBILITY is considered a hydrogen refueling infrastructure expert with the most experience worldwide in building and operating an H2 refueling network of nearly 100 stations. As CEO of the joint venture, Nikolas Iwan follows the ambition to show the world that hydrogen works in transportation and mobility. Here he benefits from his infrastructure and management experience, which he gained in various positions at Shell, most recently as head of the filling station business in Austria, where one of the largest truckports in Europe and 260 Shell filling stations were part of his area of responsibility.

Stefan Dohler is CEO of EWE Group since 2018. He started his career in 1998 at the Hamburg energy supplier HEW, one of the predecessor companies of Vattenfall. Since then, he has held a number of leadership positions in the areas of finance, networks, products and markets. In 2012 he became a member of the Executive Management Team of the Vattenfall Group. Most recently he was CFO of Vattenfall AB in Stockholm, Sweden.

Jorgo Chatzimarkakis is Secretary General of Hydrogen Europe since 2016. Before he was Representative of Infineon Technologies in Brussels and Member of the European Parliament (2004 – 2014) inter alia in the ITRE Committee (Industry, Technology, Research and Energy) where he could contribute to lay the cornerstone for the first and the second Joint Undertaking on hydrogen and fuel cells. In 2007 he was elected “MEP of the year” by his colleagues of the European Parliament in the category “Research and Innovation”. In 2015 he was appointed ambassador at large for Greece.
Mr Chatzimarkakis was born in Duisburg, Germany. He holds German and Greek nationality, a degree in political science from the University of Bonn.

„The fuel cell will contribute towards a significant CO2 reduction in the transport sector.”
Vita: Since 2020, Dr Thomas Wintrich has been Senior Vice President of the Fuel Cell Mobility Solutions business unit in the Powertrain Solutions division of Robert Bosch GmbH.​
Dr Thomas Wintrich graduated in mechanical engineering, and earned his doctorate at the Institute for Energy Technology and Mass Transfer, both at RWTH Aachen University. ​
Since 1999 he has held various positions at Robert Bosch GmbH in the field of diesel fuel injection systems and combustion.

Proton Motor is a pioneer in hydrogen and fuel cell technology and has set itself the sustainable energy solutions for tomorrow’s world in the mobile, stationary, maritime and rail sectors, maritime and rail sectors - such as the emission-free fuel cell. Since 2017, Manfred Limbrunner has been a member of the Management Board of the parent company Proton Motor Power Systems plc and is also Director of Sales & Marketing at Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH in Puchheim near Munich.
Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are the flagships of the green energy transition and play a significant role in the global fight against climate change. With the tightening of the climate targets for 2030, green hydrogen is the central energy carrier to achieve a climate-neutral EU. As both hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are still underestimated in their potential to contribute to a greener and more sustainable future, Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH, with its more than 20 years of pioneering role in the hydrogen fuel cell industry, welcomes the presentation by the EU Commission and the German government of their hydrogen plans.

Company Statement:„Hydrogen plays an important role in our strategy to produce steel in a climate-neutral way in the future. With green hydrogen, climate-neutral production will be possible in Hamburg before 2030, as long as policymakers create the framework conditions and secure financial support until green steel is economically self-sustaining.”
Vita: Study of Metallurgy and doctoral thesis in Technical University BA Freiberg. Professional career did start at Hamburger Stahlwerke in R&D, then various management positions at AM Hamburg. Since 2017 CEO.

„Statement Hydrogen technologies are a key to the comprehensive transformation toward a climate-neutral economy. To leverage the potential for value creation in Germany and Europe, we must consistently align the energy policy framework with climate protection so that climate-friendly business models become more attractive than their fossil alternatives.”

Since November 2020 Nicole Dreyer-Langlet is appointed as Vice President Research & Technology. She is in charge of all Research & Technology activities in this field, managing the transnational activities for system installation, structure and cabin as well as all R&T activities in Germany with it partners and contact to the government. Her team develops solutions for new aircraft programs as well as new ideas for all running programs in Airbus. She is leading the operational Airbus R&T Plateau in the new Technology Centre in Hamburg (ZAL – Centre for Applied Aeronautical Research). From 2016 to 2020 she acted as Vice President Cabin & Cargo A330/A380, Engineering and as Vice President Procurement Operations Cabin (2013 to 2016).

Andreas Wenzel studied business administration at the Merseburg University of Applied Sciences and graduated as Diplom-Kaufmann. In addition, he took his MA degree in African Development Studies at the interdisciplinary Africa Institute of the University of Bayreuth. Since September 2019 he serves as Chief Executive Officer of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Morocco (AHK Marokko). Prior to this posting, he acted as Director of Africa and International Raw Materials Policy at the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK). From 2015 to 2016, Andreas Wenzel was a Managing Director of Mauritian based mining company SBG Metals Africa. Prior to this, Andreas Wenzel had been Secretary General of the Southern Africa Initiative of the German Economy - SAFRI, a regional initiative of the German economy then chaired by Prof. Dr. h.c. Jürgen E. Schrempp. Between 2006 and 2011 he worked for the Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft (German-African Business Association) as a Director Southern Africa and since 2010 also as Deputy Managing Director. He gained his first professional experience in the African context in 2004/2005 in southern Africa within the scope of a chamber and federation consulting project of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ).

„The hydrogen economy offers huge potential for South Africa and many African countries. Not only to become exporters of hydrogen, but also to develop own hydrogen economies and with that leap frogging some of the developments which took place in the developed world.”
Dr. Philipp Nellessen is Chief Executive Officer for thyssenkrupp Mining business in Middle East and Africa as well as for the Chemicals business in Sub-Sahara Africa. As part of the tk Chemical business Philipp is active in promoting and executing projects in the entire tk technology portfolio in Sub-Sahara Africa including a wide spectrum of green technologies (e.g. green hydrogen, green ammonia, green methanol,…). Before joining thyssenkrupp in 2014, Philipp spent almost 10 years as an international consultant at the Boston Consulting Group. Philipp holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from and a PhD in Process Control of Mechanized Shield Tunneling Machines.

„Renewable energy and hydrogen offer tremendous opportunities for the United States and Germany to work together to tackle climate change, to revitalize our economies after the pandemic, and to create millions of good jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Consul General Darion Akins arrived in Hamburg in July 2019.  He is a career Foreign Service Officer, and the Ambassadors representative to the German states of Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Bremen, Schleswig-Holstein, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Before his assignment to Germany, Darion was in the Executive Office for the Bureaus of European and Eurasian Affairs and International Organization Affairs, where he oversaw the staffing of U.S. diplomatic missions in Europe and multilateral organizations, such as the U.S. Mission to the United Nations (USUN) in New York, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), U.S. Mission to the European Union (USEU), and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Prior to his Washington assignment, he served in Malaysia, India, Afghanistan, Australia, and Indonesia.

„To ramp up green hydrogen, a focus on strategic sectors and applications that can act as early adopters at large-scale is required. In our National Green Hydrogen Strategy, we aim to accelerate the deployment of green hydrogen in 6 prioritized applications where green hydrogen is close to market, where demand is relatively concentrated geographically, and that present a great willingness to transition to clean energy.” (www.erneuerbare-energien-hamburg.de/de/blog/details/to-ramp-up-green-hydrogen-a-focus-on-strategic-sectors-as-early-adopters-at-large-scale-is-required.html)
Max Correa is the Head of the Fuels and New Energy Division at the Ministry of Energy, Chile. Before joining the Ministry of Energy, Mr Correa served as the Executive Director of the Solar and Energy Innovation Committee at the Chilean Economic Development Agency, Corfo. During his tenure, the Committees work has been largely focused on increasing international collaboration and on the promotion of green hydrogen and other energy innovations as critical elements of Chile’s energy transition. He previously worked at Corfo as Deputy Director of Strategy and Sustainability, supporting the Executive Vice President (CEO) in defining and implementing the institutional strategy, and providing prospective and exploratory information to identify upcoming trends. Prior to Corfo, Mr Correa worked as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Andes Iron, an iron ore mining company that owns two world-class IOCG Ore Deposits along the Andes Coastal Range. Mr Correa is on the Board of Directors of the Chilean Natural Resources Information Centre, CIREN (part of the Ministry of Agriculture) and serves as City Councilor for the Municipality of Zapallar. He also contributes to several conservation initiatives, most notably to Corporación Bosques de Zapallar (bosquesdezapallar.cl/).Academically, Mr Correa graduated from Universidad de Chile, Faculty of Law and holds an MPhil in Environmental Policy, Department of Land Economy, from Cambridge University in the UK and undertook a Certificate Program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

„Africa can improve its position in the global economic cycles in the coming years via the H2 economy, due to its excellent conditions for the production of blue and green hydrogen and its downstream products, but also because of its proximity to European sales markets. And not to be forgotten: In combination with the expected large increase in investments in green electricity, hydrogen could also make a decisive contribution to solving the problem of nationwide electricity supply that exists in some parts of the continent at the same time.”

Since 1955 the Association of North German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (IHK Nord) is the central organisation in the network of 12 Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the federal states of Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Schleswig-Holstein. The IHK Nord represents the interests of the northern economy at regional, federal and EU level to other economic associations and public. Our chamber-network sums up the interest of more than 700.000 north german companies to speak with one voice. By working close together on positions and activities to formulate interests of businesses on topical issues such as energy, maritime, tourism, food economy, industry or foreign trade policy, the IHK Nord supports the whole northern economic area to protect and develop its competitiveness and the high quality levelled region. www.ihk.nord.de & twitter: @IHK_Nord

We encourage the introduction of environmentally friendly hydrogen energy and campaign for hydrogen in public, initiate projects and passing knowledge of hydrogen as the energy carrier of the future in schools and universities. The Hydrogen Society Hamburg has been found more than 30 years ago and was thus a pioneer for the hydrogen economy in Hamburg and northern Germany. We rely on close cooperation between industry, science and politics. www.h2hamburg.de