Ruhr Metropolis takes the top spot

First nationwide H2 ranking

According to a study by the German Economic Institute Cologne (IW) commissioned by the Ruhr Regional Association, the Ruhr region ranks first in the hydrogen economy, ahead of Stuttgart and Munich.

“This result can give the hydrogen economy in the Ruhr region a strong boost,” is Volker Lindner convinced, Chairman of h2-netzwerk-ruhr e.V..

According to the study, strong networking—nationally and internationally—is one of the Ruhr region’s strengths. Other strengths include the dense research landscape and the application-oriented know-how of the local industry, which offers every opportunity to bring new products quickly to market .

The study published on December 14, 2020, assesses for the first time the potential of the nine most important hydrogen regions in Germany. The Ruhr Metropolis scores 141 points, compared with 130 for Stuttgart and 115 for Munich. In particular, the survey of experts from the National Hydrogen Council consistently ranked the Ruhr region first in the areas of companies, research, infrastructure and initiatives.

In its study, the German Economic Institute Cologne recommends establishing a national coordination office in order to leverage synergies in the expansion of the nationwide hydrogen industry in the form of regional specialization and interregional cooperation . Because no other metropolitan region is as broadly positioned in hydrogen as the Ruhr region, the region is particularly well suited to host such a steering and networking office .

You can find the complete study in short and long versions at the following links:

2020_12_14_Summary_Study_national_Hydrogen_Ranking.pdf (rvr.ruhr)

Microsoft Word – 201214_IW_national Hydrogen Ranking_final.docx (rvr.ruhr)

Cover image: RVR/IW