The global market ramp-up of green hydrogen is essential for the energy transformation. The expansion of hydrogen infrastructure as a key technology must be driven forward to the same extent as the expansion of electricity grids. Because: „No energy transition without hydrogen,“ said Lars Baumgürtel at the Handelsblatt Energy Summit on January 17th in Berlin.

The CEO of the ZINQ Group emphasised in the panel „Road to H2: How do we get hydrogen to the customer?“ that the energy transition can only succeed if the expansion of hydrogen infrastructure receives greater support from federal and state governments. He added that it should not only benefit large industries, but that the energy-intensive medium-sized businesses, which form the backbone of the German economy and are a key sector for the success of the energy transition, must also be given greater consideration. „Medium-sized businesses need hydrogen, in addition to electricity, for the decarbonisation of process heat – quickly and at competitive prices,“ explained Baumgürtel.

To achieve the desired climate goals and maintain the competitiveness of medium-sized companies in the region, an expansion of regional transport and distribution infrastructure is required, in addition to supra-regional networks. To this end, Lars Baumgürtel is advocating for the hydrogen model region within the framework of the Klimahafen Gelsenkirchen initiative.

The coalition of energy-intensive companies from the Gelsenkirchen city harbour and surrounding areas, including ZINQ, wants to achieve climate neutrality as quickly as possible. „Connection to a hydrogen pipeline is essential for our path to climate neutrality,“ emphasised Baumgürtel, who is also the spokesperson for the initiative.

Regardless, the first companies have already initiated the transformation process and will initially convert their plants to the coke oven's hydrogen-rich energy gas in Bottrop. Lars Baumgürtel emphasised at the Energy Summit: „The ZINQ plant in Gelsenkirchen will also be converted for the initial application of H2, thus forming a pilot project for gas-fired large combustion plants in Germany. We at ZINQ are H2ready!“