From regional production to the use of hydrogen (H2) buses to zero-emission corporate fleets: hydrogen mobility has many facets. In order to create the necessary structures together, Bottrop, Gelsenkirchen and the responsible district of Recklinghausen are developing a regional implementation concept under the title "HyExperts Region Emscher-Lippe" in the coming months. It should cover all value-added stages of future hydrogen mobility and involve as many local actors as possible.
With this goal, experts and companies from the region will gather on November 23rd, 2020 for a virtual working meeting, the first of an expected three H2 regional forums.
“Hydrogen as an energy source is an important component of climate-neutral mobility and has great potential to bring new added value to our region. The Emscher-Lippe region, with its innovative industrial locations and active players, already offers the best conditions for taking on a nationwide pioneering role in this area. Together we must now further expand the existing structures and networks," said Bodo Klimpel, District Administrator of the Recklinghausen district.
“In terms of hydrogen expertise, we are already in a very good position in the region. Now we are conceptually bringing these together under one roof for production, transport, application and innovation. We want to set up a smart system in the HyExperts region Emscher-Lippe that optimally uses the strengths of our region for future hydrogen mobility," says Bernd Tischler, Mayor of the city of Bottrop.
Regional strengths and special features play a central role in successfully implementing hydrogen mobility. The cities of Bottrop, Gelsenkirchen and the district of Recklinghausen are therefore working together on a regional implementation concept that is not only intended to advance climate protection, but also thinks ahead with existing structures and can create new value-added options in the region. Under the title "HyExperts Region Emscher-Lippe", it will be worked out by August 2021 and should take into account all facets of future hydrogen mobility, from public transport to logistics and disposal to individual transport. The actors involved meet regularly (online) and discuss opportunities and perspectives for the region.
The development of the HyExperts Region Emscher-Lippe as a hydrogen region is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure with a total of 300,000 euros as part of the National Innovation Program for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP2). "The Emscher-Lippe region positioned itself early and very promisingly and was one of the first that we as HyExperts promote throughout Germany and started with very specific projects. The region already has a clear hydrogen profile and is successfully building on it. We look forward to the results of the conception process,” said Kurt-Christoph von Knobelsdorff, Managing Director of NOW GmbH, which coordinates the funding program.
Today's H2 regional forum is the first in a series of working meetings that will be held in various (online) formats over the coming months as part of the concept development. Companies and municipal actors from the region, various experts and best-practice projects are invited to participate in the design of the HyExperts Emscher-Lippe region with their projects and their expertise.
about the project
The goal of the HyExperts Region Emscher-Lippe is to set up regional structures for climate-neutral transport based on hydrogen. An implementation study led by the district of Recklinghausen and the cities of Gelsenkirchen and Bottrop is to develop concrete solutions that can also be transferred to other regions and work out an overall concept. Results are expected in late summer 2021. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure with a total of 300,000 euros as part of the National Innovation Program for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP2). The funding guideline is coordinated by NOW GmbH and implemented by the project management agency Jülich (PtJ).
