3rd Hydrogen Symposium in Tempowerk Hamburg
The 3rd Hydrogen Symposium at TEMPOWERK HAMBURG demonstrated: A strong hydrogen network needs support, research – and a city with active clusters like Hamburg.
After the official opening, participants were welcomed by a fully booked exhibition showcasing the diversity of current projects and innovative approaches across the entire hydrogen value chain. The accompanying keynote speeches provided valuable insights into recent developments and challenges in the sector:
Detlev Wösten, CEO of P2X-Europe GmbH & Co. KG, spoke about the potential of hydrogen in mobility and the basic materials industry. He emphasized the role of synthetic fuels (e-fuels) as a necessary bridging technology on the path to decarbonizing sectors that are difficult to electrify. Wösten highlighted the importance of scaling effects and investment security to ensure the competitiveness of hydrogen-based solutions.
The Institute for Plastics and Composites at the Hamburg University of Technology focused on the material challenges facing the hydrogen economy. Special emphasis was placed on developing new material solutions for pipelines, storage systems, and applications under extreme conditions to guarantee system safety and longevity. Hydrogen presents particularly high demands on materials research due to its permeation properties and embrittlement effects.
Björn Jotzo, Investment Manager at Luxcara, presented the "Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub," a flagship project aimed at producing green hydrogen on the site of the former Moorburg coal-fired power plant. The goal is to provide green molecules for industry and mobility by combining wind energy and electrolysis – a strong signal for structural change in Hamburg.
The subsequent panel discussion on "Hydrogen: A Business Case for Industry?" featured lively debates: While there was consensus on the long-term potential of hydrogen, it also became clear that current framework conditions – particularly regarding regulation, infrastructure, and funding mechanisms – must be more strongly geared towards market development and economic viability. It was also emphasized that clusters like Hamburg, with their mix of research institutions, industrial applications, and active networks, play a crucial role in driving the hydrogen economy forward.
A big thank you goes to the Wirtschaftsverein für den Hamburger Süden and the cooperation partner Renewable Energy Hamburg (EEHH) for the excellent organization and support of the event. The symposium once again showed that building a sustainable hydrogen economy is no self-starter – it requires active commitment, strategic cooperation, and a platform for exchange between research, industry, and politics.
