Andreas Becker, Member of the State Parliament: “We must lead the way in hydrogen!”

Andreas Becker, Member of the State Parliament, visited the h2herten Application Center on July 3, 2020, with a delegation from SPD Recklinghausen. There, the group was informed about regional hydrogen activities by Dr. Babette Nieder, Hydrogen Coordinator of WiN Emscher-Lippe, and Peter Brautmeier, spokesperson for h2-netzwerk-ruhr.

After Dr. Nieder’s presentation, a lively discussion developed about the future of hydrogen technology. Andreas Becker commented: “The region must seize its opportunities. We need to be more proactive – for example, in converting public vehicle fleets.” Delegation members described the planned acquisition of “only five fuel cell buses” by Vestische Straßenbahnen as timid and called for greater commitment to air quality on polluted inner-city streets. After all, fuel cell buses operate completely emission-free.

At the end of the visit, the group toured the wind power electrolysis facility, which the Herten Application Center has been using for seven years to demonstrate how energy generated from wind can be stored and converted back into electricity. Andreas Becker was convinced: “Local decision-makers still know too little about hydrogen and how important it will be for our energy supply in the future.”

Cover photo: The Recklinghausen SPD delegation in front of the hydrogen tank at the h2herten Application Center. In the middle are Dr. Babette Nieder and Peter Brautmeier, to their right is delegation leader Andreas Becker, Member of the State Parliament (5th, 4th, and 3rd from right).