(Frankfurt a. M., 01.12.2023) For more than 20 years, VDE Renewables has been connecting banks and insurance companies with manufacturers from the renewable energy sector with its Financial Dialogue format. This initiative successfully supported the market ramp-up of photovoltaics, which has served as a blueprint for a similar strategy in the hydrogen economy since 2022. "We started last year with the first Financial Dialogue Hydrogen at the Hydrogen Dialogue in Nuremberg," says Burkhard Holder, Program Director VDE Financial Dialogue. "This year, we have already arrived at a format that will take place with leading workshops at four locations in Germany. Due to the current budget discussion and the worsening geopolitical situation, this platform is more important than ever."
Results from the lead workshops: Seizing opportunities instead of going into crisis mode
The content of the lead workshops was adapted to current developments, with the current challenges being discussed in terms of an opportunity rather than a crisis. The participants, including the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (DWV), the Federal Association for Energy Storage Systems (BVES), Infraserv-Höchst, EIT InnoEnergy and the Fraunhofer Training Academy for the Hydrogen Economy, are in favor of clearly analyzing the state of the German hydrogen economy, putting all measures to the test and deriving recommendations from this. Burkhard Holder says: "Funding must be focused on economically competitive business models. We need efficient regulations and as little bureaucracy as possible at the same time. International standards must be supplemented by pre-standards – this also includes a certain error culture in order to become faster and internationally successful."
Green hydrogen from Europe, transparency for specialists
Another key aspect identified in the lead workshops was that the production of green hydrogen should focus on locations in Europe. As there is sufficient potential to realize this at competitive prices, the idea of an economic union based on partnership in the energy sector could be strengthened in this way and geopolitical dependencies reduced. The participants discussed the topic of skilled workers less in terms of the omnipresent shortage and more in terms of the question of who might even have the idea of entering the hydrogen economy today. Holder commented: "As we don't have an established market, it's difficult to get people interested. So we need transparency and confidence in market development in order to create prospects. This will also enable us to attract experts with a background in energy technology and expertise in service and maintenance."
Innovation Stage and High Level Panel at the Hydrogen Dialogue Nuremberg
On December 6, 2023, the Innovation Stage at the Hydrogen Dialogue Summit & Expo in Nuremberg will focus on the topics of bankability, insurability, reducing bureaucracy and the necessary adjustments to regulations. To this end, representatives from industry, finance and the legal community will come together to discuss and shape the future direction of the hydrogen economy. At the High Level Panel on December 7, 2023, economic, technical and political perspectives will be evaluated on the basis of the results from the lead workshops and recommendations will be drawn up for all those involved in order to develop the hydrogen economy sustainably and successfully.
Venue: Exhibition Center Nuremberg, Karl-Schönleben-Straße 1, 90471 Nuremberg, NCC Mitte & Hall 10.0. Please find Further information here (in German).
