More than 570,000 euros for hydrogen coordination in the Emscher-Lippe region

Another important step for the Emscher-Lippe region on the path to becoming a top player in hydrogen: Regional President Dorothee Feller presented the regional economic development agency WiN Emscher-Lippe GmbH with a funding approval for the project “Hydrogen Coordination Emscher-Lippe” amounting to approximately 570,000 euros. “Hydrogen is a central building block for the transformation into an innovation-driven region,” says Regional President Feller. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the European Union are thus supporting the development of the region into the core of a sustainable hydrogen economy.

Over the next three years, the funding will primarily finance two hydrogen coordinators who will comprehensively address the topic of hydrogen. The main contact person and project manager is Dr. Rammert-Bentlage, a chemist with a doctorate who is thoroughly familiar with the topic of hydrogen from both a scientific and practical perspective and is excellently networked in the Emscher-Lippe region.

Hydrogen action recommendations
The two coordinators are to establish a strategic “hydrogen network” with all relevant stakeholders, from industry to education, economic development agencies, municipalities, and the region’s skilled trades. Together, they are to develop “hydrogen action recommendations.” Furthermore, small and medium-sized enterprises are to be encouraged to further develop general project ideas in the field of hydrogen into flagship projects.

The application of “green,” i.e., sustainably produced hydrogen, holds a high priority in the project. Particularly in the areas of industry and mobility, the project aims to contribute to climate protection in the region. In addition, this can achieve positive effects on the labor market and the quality of life of the population. To this end, the project will raise awareness among as many stakeholders as possible on the topic of hydrogen over the next three years.

In all these tasks, the hydrogen coordinators can already draw on excellent infrastructure in the Emscher-Lippe region. This was emphasized by the Chairman of the WiN Presidium, District Administrator Cay Süberkrüb, during the presentation of the funding approval: “The region has the best prerequisites to become a center of hydrogen research and industry: The application center in Herten, the regional universities, and the industrial base can be optimally networked in the project.”

Title photo: Those pleased with the funding approval were (from left): Joachim Beyer (Managing Director WiN Emscher-Lippe GmbH), Dorothee Feller (Regional President of Münster), Cay Süberkrüb (District Administrator of Recklinghausen District), Bernd Groß (Managing Director WiN Emscher-Lippe GmbH), and Dr. Klaus Rammert-Bentlage (Project Manager Hydrogen Coordination Emscher-Lippe). Photo: WiN Emscher-Lippe GmbH