“Seize the Region’s Opportunities!”

Member of the European Parliament Dennis Radtke – MEP – Visits h2-netzwerk-ruhr

Dennis Radtke, Member of the European Parliament for the CDU representing the Ruhr region, paid a visit to h2-netzwerk-ruhr e.V. at its headquarters in Herten. The occasion was the parliamentary breakfast—canceled due to the coronavirus crisis—that had been planned for April 30.

Dennis Radtke stated: “I find the topic extremely exciting, which is why it was important for me to learn more about the network’s activities through a personal conversation.”

Volker Lindner, as Chairman of h2-netzwerk-ruhr, presented the association’s fields of activity and particularly addressed the most recent project, the application for funding a feasibility study for a “Hydrogen Laboratory Ruhr.” Behind this catchy name lies the concept of a demonstration and operational research center for large-scale electrolyzers, which could be established on the grounds of the Uniper power plant in Gelsenkirchen-Scholven. “By 2030 at the latest, the demand for electrolysis systems will reach a scale that can no longer be managed with today’s production methods; mass production on an industrial scale will then be necessary.” Preparing for this and making production processes and resource consumption more economical is intended to be one of the goals of the “Hydrogen Laboratory Ruhr.” Dennis Radtke, who is among other things a member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy in the European Parliament, knew from discussions at BP in Gelsenkirchen that industrial demand for hydrogen will increase significantly as part of climate protection efforts. “And then it is necessary to have ‘green’ hydrogen available, meaning hydrogen produced using renewable energy.” Therefore, he supports the project within the scope of his capabilities and will research in Brussels whether there are additional EU funding programs that could be applied here within the framework of the Green Deal.

Title photo: Member of the European Parliament Dennis Radtke (left) also inspected the hydrogen refueling station in Herten during his visit to h2-netzwerk-ruhr. He was accompanied by Herten CDU Chairman Holger Lenz (right). In the center is the Chairman of the network, Volker Lindner.