Essen Economic Development joins h2-netzwerk-ruhr

Chairman Volker Lindner welcomes EWG as the 50th member

EWG – Essener Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft mbH is committed to developing a hydrogen future for the Essen location. A key element is the establishment of a regional and supra-regional H₂ community. This includes activities such as founding the H₂ Unit, marketing the hashtag #H2Thinktank, and joining h2-netzwerk-ruhr e.V. In the Ruhr-wide network, as the 50th member, EWG will now help shape the hydrogen future in the Metropole Ruhr.

The year 2020 gave the topic of hydrogen a tremendous boost across Germany and internationally. The energy transition and climate action can only succeed with a massively increased use of green hydrogen. This insight has led to the fact that, alongside companies active in fuel cell and electrolysis technology, research institutions, municipalities and economic development organisations are also becoming involved in this field. According to studies by the NRW Ministry of Economic Affairs, up to 130,000 jobs are expected in North Rhine-Westphalia alone as part of implementing the state’s H₂ roadmap . The strong public interest also gave h2-netzwerk-ruhr e.V. an additional boost. In 2020, the network gained a total of eight new members – including EWG as the 50th member. The Chairman of h2-netzwerk-ruhr, Volker Lindner, therefore did not miss the opportunity to welcome EWG Managing Director Andre Boschem as a new member with a bouquet of flowers .

On the way to the H₂ think tank

For Andre Boschem, joining h2-netzwerk-ruhr is another step on the way to making Essen the region’s H₂ think tank: “The aim is to pool knowledge, actively connect the city’s H₂ stakeholders and those of the Metropole Ruhr, and support projects. Because with the companies and research institutions in Essen alone, a complete hydrogen ecosystem can be mapped. That holds great potential.” Using the hashtag #H2Thinktank, all information can be brought together on the social media platform LinkedIn . This establishes a strong community to make the hydrogen era a reality in Essen and the region.

h2-netzwerk-ruhr e.V. and its members

Volker Lindner is pleased about the reinforcement from Essen. “Many large and important companies are based here that will play a major role in the hydrogen economy in the future,” the Chairman of h2-netzwerk-ruhr is convinced. Through EWG, he hopes for better contacts with companies interested in exchanging views on fuel cells and electrolysers and their increased deployment in the German and European energy market . Other Essen members of the network include: the Zollverein Foundation , Gas- und Wärme-Institut Essen e.V., Stadtwerke Essen AG, Open Grid Europe GmbH, and Business Metropole Ruhr GmbH. EMSCHERGENOSSENSCHAFT / LIPPEVERBAND is also represented in the association as a founding member.

Title photo: Volker Lindner, Chairman of h2-netzwerk-ruhr, welcomes Andre Boschem, EWG Managing Director, with a bouquet of flowers. Photo: Claudia Anders