Generation H2 - the Hannover Region's hydrogen program

Climate protection is existential and an important driver of innovation. Business, administration, science and education are joining forces in the Generation H ² initiative in the field of hydrogen in the Hannover Region to enable sustainable economic activity and make a contribution to the climate targets that have been set. Protecting the climate also means promoting employment and competitiveness!

Climate protection is no longer a marginal topic in economic reports , but a clear political objective. It is becoming clear that the costs caused by further global warming could be many times higher than the investment in innovative prevention measures, for example to reduce^{CO2 emissions}.

The rapid development and use of hydrogen technology is an important building block for achieving the climate protection targets set by the German government and the Hannover Region. It is essential to establish regional hydrogen value chains with partners who produce (green) hydrogen economically and to network them with those who use it.

The challenges of comprehensive hydrogen production and use in the future are complex

The high demand for "green" hydrogen requires a massive expansion in the generation of electricity from wind power and solar plants .
The level of filling station infrastructure and hydrogen production facilities is still far from adequate.

Our program initiative pursues three central regional policy objectives:

Achieving the Hannover Region's climate protection targets.
Investments in the regional economy.
Strengthening the future viability of the regional economy by implementing new technologies that promise high growth rates in future markets.

How should this be done?

An important solution is the rapid establishment of cross-industry partnerships (project-related cooperation). The aim here is to bring together the business partners who produce hydrogen economically with those who use it.

In addition, opportunities must be sought in various sectors to reduce CO2 emissions through the use of hydrogen. These could be, for example, innovative projects to reduce ^CO2 emissions in cement production - one of the main emitters of^CO2 - or projects to produce climate-neutral fuels for aircraft and ships.

At regional level, this means mobilizing companies to develop and implement solutions for industrial uses in connection with hydrogen technology. Funding and venture capital as part of the Hannover Region's hydrogen program are intended to accelerate this process.

Developing hydrogen as an important energy source on the way to a^CO2-neutraleconomic area is a challenge that can only be mastered jointly, interdisciplinary and with know-how transfer between industry, research, education and administration.

In addition to the challenge of developing application technology suitable for widespread use and establishing the necessary supply infrastructure, the development and transfer of H ² expertise and know-how is a key component in establishing the technology in companies.

With the further education and training program of the Leibniz University in cooperation with the University of Oldenburg and the H2 research ^campus at the Leibniz University, important facilities have been and are being created that train highly qualified ^H2 experts in the region on the one hand and directly anchor research regionally on the other. The short line between science and industry is supported by information events for the exchange of knowledge and the creation and strengthening of local networks.