HYDROGEN DIALOGUE 2024 – Summit & Expo: From hype to action for the energy transition

The HYDROGEN DIALOGUE 2024 – Summit & Expo delivered what it promised: An absolutely high-calibre summit of the national and international hydrogen industry with great participation from politics, business and 17 international delegations. And the parallel trade fair also delivered tangible results – for example for the many start-ups that presented themselves in pitches to international investors. The event attracted 1,200 visitors, more than 30 percent of whom came from abroad alone. “The event impressively demonstrated that ideas, first projects and the will to ramp up the hydrogen economy are there,” says Jasmin Rutka, Event Director at NürnbergMesse. “Our platform has now brought the right people together for the fifth time to accelerate this development together.”

Summit: The hydrogen venue in Bavaria

The congress focused on the near and distant future: “Without hydrogen, nothing will work in the future if we really want to decarbonise and not deindustrialise,“ emphasised Hubert Aiwanger, Bavarian State Minister for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, at the opening of the summit. He spoke forcefully in favour of Bavaria's strategic importance as a geographical and strategic centre for European hydrogen supply, which could forge energy partnerships from North Africa to Scandinavia.

The event made it clear that hydrogen is not only a key to achieving climate neutrality, but also offers an industrial policy opportunity for the German and European economy. “The development of a hydrogen economy is not only climate-relevant, but also offers us the opportunity to position Germany as a technology provider,“ said Prof Dr Veronika Grimm, member of the German government's Council of Experts: “China already dominates many future technologies. Germany needs to invest strategically to avoid being left behind from a technological perspective.“ And she warned against economic stagnation: “Germany has stagnated economically since 2019 – five years without growth, while the USA has grown by 12 per cent in the same period.“ In order not to lose touch, ambitious measures and international cooperation must be strengthened.

Gunda Röstel, Deputy Chair of the German Council for Sustainable Development, also called for more speed: “The ramp-up of an efficient hydrogen market must be significantly accelerated if we want to guarantee security of supply.“ She emphasised the importance of international partnerships and pragmatic solutions to mitigate geopolitical risks and ensure a resilient energy supply. Despite all the urgency, she also demanded: “Predictability for investors and industry is crucial in order to manage the risks and financial burdens in the hydrogen economy.“

The message sent by the HYDROGEN DIALOGUE is clear: hydrogen is not an option for the future, but a necessity. But getting there is complex. “We have to move from discussing to doing,“ demanded Minister of State Aiwanger, emphasising the need to remove regulatory hurdles and create long-term planning security for investors and industry.

International Networking

In concise, one-minute pitches on the first evening of the event, representatives of the delegations from ten countries explained where they stand in the expansion of the hydrogen economy, what goals they are pursuing and what challenges they have to overcome. After the presentations, networking tables, labelled with the country flags, invited participants to talk in small groups. Here, attendees made contacts, exchanged ideas and laid the foundations for international cooperation – living proof that the hydrogen market can only be successful on a global scale.

The second day of the summit focussed on the international perspective of the hydrogen economy. In his keynote speech, Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe, emphasised the opportunities of a common European energy purchasing market. Presentations and discussion panels highlighted Europe's position in the global hydrogen race, the importance of international partnerships and the need to drive forward infrastructure projects as well as LOHC, green ammonia and liquid hydrogen.

Expo: “The best HYDROGEN DIALOGUE“

More than 40 exhibitors from various areas of the hydrogen industry showcased products and solutions at the parallel trade fair. From water treatment plants for use in electrolysis to fuel cell SUVs, the exhibitors covered the entire value chain from production to storage, transport and usage.

An Innovation Stage offered space to present new technologies and developments, while a Startup Stage provided a platform for young companies: these in particular benefited from a development towards increasingly concrete projects and products. Dr Dragan Stevanović, Managing Director of the start-up HiTES, stated: “You can clearly see that the hype has cooled down. In recent years, these were often unrealistic expectations.“ However, for the founder of a company that produces hydrogen from biomass via steam reforming at significantly lower costs compared to electrolysis, this is a positive process. “You can see that investors are now more interested than last year: they now want to find realistic solutions and invest in them. For us, this year is the best HYDROGEN DIALOGUE – very specific.“

For Siemens in Nuremberg, the HYDROGEN DIALOGUE is a “home game“. The global player offers automation and measurement solutions, medium-voltage systems or motors and drives for the entire hydrogen value chain and supports its customers with services such as concept development, planning, simulation and real-time monitoring to make hydrogen projects efficient and future-proof. The company's own solutions for electrolysis, power generation or refuelling stations can be used immediately in containers. For Sven Köppe from Siemens, networking with other players is crucial: “I think it's important that Nuremberg has an exhibition dedicated to hydrogen. We have a good flow of visitors to our stand. From the point of view of the location, it is important that the topics are placed with end customers, equipment suppliers and everyone else from politics and business. And that we can network in a kind of community here at HYDROGEN DIALOGUE.“

Long-distance network operators have an important role to play in the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy. Together, they are building the 9,000 km core network recently approved by the German government. A key player in Bavaria is Bayernets. For Richard Unterseer, Head of Network Management, the event is therefore a must: “This is where we meet all the market players. They network at the HYDROGEN DIALOGUE and create transparency about the companies' plans and the state of research. The most important contacts here are: all Bavarian projects, universities and colleges, companies and politicians,“ says Unterseer, summarising: “This is where the Bavarian hydrogen world meets.“

European Hydrogen Transport Dialogue

The European Hydrogen Transport Dialogue took place for the third time as part of the Hydrogen Dialogue. The event focussed on the challenges and solutions of the hydrogen transport industry and presented 30 of the most influential hydrogen companies in the transport and mobility sector.

Strong partners

The HYDROGEN DIALOGUE 2024 – Summit & Expo was supported by strong partners, including Bayern International and the Hydrogen Centre Bavaria (H2.B), which acts as a strategy and coordination centre for hydrogen in Bavaria, and the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy.