The network within the innovation cluster

Parties involved in the innovation cluster will work together as part of a strong network of partners with the aim of turning the northwest into a leading hydrogen region. The goal is to gain mutual benefit from experiences across the entire value chain. Participants will go on a shared learning journey as the project unfolds. Concepts and initiatives relating to regional value creation will be devised, new funding projects launched and infrastructure and outlet markets developed. In short, the plan is to bring hydrogen into everyday life.

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An exchange of ideas will be facilitated through participation in regular working group meetings. Discussions will center on four topics: Working Group 1 will deal with hydrogen for municipal vehicles and local public transport, Working Group 2 is tasked with freight transport and logistics, Working Group 3 will handle maritime applications and port logistics and Working Group 4 will concentrate on infrastructure and hydrogen provision. These working groups are public and all interested parties are invited to become involved.

The knowledge level of individual participants in the network varies widely, with some members dipping into the subject of hydrogen for the first while others are engaged in the local rollout of hydrogen. This is what makes the network so diverse and dynamic, with participants having the opportunity to learn and benefit from each other. The working groups will be led by representatives of major companies and institutions from the region, namely energy engineering consultancy PLANET, the Ems-Jade transport association, the city of Oldenburg, the Oldenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, MARIKO, EWE NETZ and swb. The working groups currently have around 250 active members.

Oldenburg energy cluster

The energy cluster in Oldenburg known as OLEC is the largest cross-technology energy network in northwestern Germany. Its members have a comprehensive knowledge and a high level of expertise in the energy sector and are focused on renewable energies and how they can be integrated efficiently into future energy systems. OLEC brings together important regional stakeholders and acts as a discussion platform for the energy transition in Lower Saxony. It has also taken on the role of coordinating the energy cluster as part of the HyWays for Future project and is responsible for communication between working groups. OLEC organizes the working group meetings and workshops and helps to arrange network meetings.

The fifth working group, overseeing publicity and marketing, is not open to the public. It is directed by the Northwest Metropolitan Region and EWE and handles the project’s website. The working group has also produced films in the region and last year ran a creative contest.

Results

In addition to the HyLand grant, other pots of funding are available for the purposes of stimulating the market. These sources will be used to finance further vehicles and additional infrastructure, with a hydrogen refueling station in Oldenburg being one such example. HyWays for Future has already resulted in specific action; investments have been made and projects have been developed. The purchase of hydrogen buses in the Friesland district and the setting up of hydrogen infrastructure in Bremerhaven provide two illustrations of this. The continuously growing network of local stakeholders also has links to the initiatives of neighboring regions, giving a wider perspective. Next year, the network will grow further and stimulate rollout, laying the foundation for the development of sustainable hydrogen infrastructure in the northwest.

Energy company EWE is the consortium leader for the project and hence has the knowledge, infrastructure and transport networks to use and transmit the power generated from renewables for the purposes of electrolytic green hydrogen production. The HyWays for Future project, with its numerous partnering organizations, is one of the winners of the German transportation ministry’s ideas contest entitled “HyLand – Hydrogen regions in Germany.” Around EUR 90 million, including government funding, is due to be invested in the region over the coming years.

www.hyways-for-future.de

Author:
Silke Timmer
Oldenburger Energiecluster OLEC e.V., Oldenburg
silke.timmer@energiecluster.de