From April 17 to 23 this year, the largest industrial show in the world is taking place in Hannover. In 2023, the Hydrogen + Fuel Cells Europe event, which had started out as a small group stand at Hannover Messe, may be one of the draft horses of this technology show. The fair at the fair has developed over the course of three decades into a highlight of the H2 and FC industry. In an about 10,000 m2 gross area this time, it will offer a comprehensive overview of the newest developments and the greatest variety of technology paths.
The theme of this year’s Hannover Messe is “Industrial Transformation – Making the Difference.” This refers to the changes in the industrial sector that are required in order to noticeably and substantially reduce CO2 emissions on a large scale. Numerous leading international companies from the machine building, electrical and digital industries as well as the energy sector – in total over 4,000 exhibitors – want to respectively show visitors their solutions for resource-efficient, climate-neutral and robust production.
The chairman of the managing board for trade fair operator Deutsche Messe AG, Dr. Jochen Köckler, stated: “Corporations, smaller companies and startups as well as academia, policymakers and society are all called upon. Only by joining forces can we succeed in sustainably securing industrial production, and thus our prosperity and future, while advancing climate protection.”
Establishing a global H2 economy
In preparation for the industrial show, Deutsche Messe organized for the hydrogen community – like before in 2022 – a networking event in Berlin. On January 23, 3023 in the Vertretung des Landes Niedersachsen beim Bund, ten representatives of different companies presented their current projects and solutions around hydrogen and fuel cells in three-minute pitches. The theme of the 3minutes2talk event was “Building a global hydrogen economy” and was opened by Olaf Lies, the economy minister for the German state Niedersachsen.
Besides Dr. Jochen Köckler as the host, in attendance were, among others, representatives from the FEST Group, from Iberdrola Energie Deutschland, from ThyssenKrupp Nucera and from Ørsted. Furthermore, Indonesian Ambassador to Germany Arif Havas Oegroseno gave a welcoming speech as a representative of this year’s Hannover Messe partner country. The president of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, has confirmed he will personally be a participant at Hannover Messe 2023; he will speak at the opening ceremony on April 16 as well as participate in the walkabout with German chancellor Olaf Scholz on the Messe Monday.
Hydrogen will then be one of the five themes this year – next to CO2-neutral production, artificial intelligence, energy management and industry 4.0 (digitalization of manufacturing). According to information by Deutsche Messe, “more than 500 companies” will be presenting hydrogen and fuel cell technologies at the fairgrounds in Hannover this year. At the specialized fair for it, Hydrogen + Fuel Cells, alone, for which the number of exhibitors as well as the area has expanded by 25 percent, around 270 institutions are expected. This will then occupy about half of hall 13.
H2Eco Award given once more
After the positive response from the previous year, there will also be an H2Eco Award in 2023 – again under the sponsorship of the German economy minister. The German hydrogen and fuel cell association (Deutsche Wasserstoff- und Brennstoffzellen-Verband e.V.) and Deutsche Messe AG will jointly present this award to companies that demonstrate outstanding commitment to an H2 market economy – particularly with regard to economic efficiency, sustainability, security of supply and climate protection.
The ceremonious awarding of this 5,000-euro prize by German economy minister Robert Habeck will occur on April 18, 2023 at the Public Forum in Halle 13.
Strongly represented again will be the electrolyzer business – with likely over 20 companies. The organizer, Tobiaz Renz, is especially pleased that “the Chinese are back again.” From the People’s Republic alone, around 20 industry players, including Refire and several electrolyzer makers, will be represented on the orange carpet. In addition, there will be a 145-m2 Norwegian pavilion with companies like Nel, Teco 2030 and Yara.
Emerson showcasing automation technology
Emerson Electric Co., an American specialist for automation technology, is exhibiting in Hannover – for the second time after 2022 – and will present its entire product portfolio. It includes, among other things, set up of complete production plants for electrolyzers and fuel cells. The company, founded in 1890, is originally from the oil and gas industry, but now devotes itself to more sustainable topics. In Germany alone, the globally active corporation employs over 3,500 people.
Based on information from Tassilo Gast, development manager at Emerson Process Management GmbH & Co. OHG, provided to H2-international, the Langenfeld-based company offers a much more comprehensive range of services than comparable competitors – so Siemens, ABB, Honeywell, etc. – as upstream and downstream production steps are also incorporated, including all of the process documentation.
Free Fachbesucher-Tickets
As a media partner of Deutsche Messe, Hydrogeit Verlag is again offering tickets for industry professionals at no cost so that interested parties can obtain comprehensive information about hydrogen and fuel cells. Tickets for free entry can be ordered via the following link: https://www.hannovermesse.de/de/?open=ticketRegistration&code=4ZkXp
Author: Sven Geitmann
Fig. 2: Hannover Messe 2022
Hannover-Messe-2022.jpg
Without the personal commitment of the founder, Arno A. Evers and his small team
from 1995 through 2006, there would be nothing now at Hannover Fair on this topic.
See here the development of the activities of the first 337 international exhibitors form 32 countries in the first years:
https://www.hydrogenambassadors.com/background/rueckblick.php