March 2023

Economics Minister Jürgen Barke presents the Saarland Hydrogen Agency

Due to the high global dynamics in the hydrogen sector and its relevance to structural change in Saarland, the Saarland state government has decided to found the Saarland Hydrogen Agency. At the state press conference on March 14th, the Saarland Minister of Economics Jürgen Barke presented the Agency´s tasks and technical director Dr. Bettina Hübschen.

The Hydrogen Agency is being established under the umbrella of Strukturholding Saar. For the work of the Agency, the Saarland state government will initially provide two million euros until the end of 2025. Later on, more funding can be acquired from the transformation fund for specific projects. The official start of the Hydrogen Agency is May 1^st.

`We have a great interest in networking players from industry, science and civil society, enabling knowledge transfer and enhance the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy through targeted measures. To do so, consolidated processes are absolutely necessary. The implementation and further development of these tasks requires a comprehensive technological and industry-specific knowledge and understanding. I am glad that, with Dr. Bettina Hübschen as the technical director, we have found an expert who will foster cooperation in the hydrogen sector on high professional standards and at eye-level with the management of the key companies.`

Dr. Bettina Hübschen was most recently responsible for `Energy and Raw Material` issues at thyssenkrupp Steel Europe´s Center of Decarbonization in Duisburg. Her responsibility also included hydrogen activities as part of the green transformation of the steel manufacturer. She has outstanding expertise in the development of industrial hydrogen infrastructures and the procurement of green energy.

Dr. Bettina Hübschen: `I am really looking forward to help shaping the structural change in Saarland towards climate friendliness and sustainability. With the Hydrogen Agency, we will extend competencies and promote Saarland as a hydrogen location.`

The Saarland Hydrogen Agency concentrates on six main topics:

1. Development and implementation of strategies
   Further development of the existing hydrogen strategy, monitoring of the hydrogen market, support of network development and network planning for connection to the evolving European hydrogen pipeline system
2. Networking
   Bringing together established and new companies with the aim of forming an overall ecosystem
3. Advice
   Advising companies on all aspects regarding hydrogen, support in permit procedures
4. Information
   Information for citizens on the importance of hydrogen and Saarland´s hydrogen
   strategy
5. Company relocation support
   Development of attractive business models for the establishment of companies implementing the hydrogen strategy or for the founding of new companies
6. Activities in the Agency´s own commercial interests
   As far as allowed under the state aid law and regarding the needs of the economy, the Hydrogen Agency will promote its own activities in Saarland in the fields of generation, demand and infrastructure.

Economics Minister Barke: `I am sure that hydrogen technology has an enormous potential for our country. With hydrogen-based innovations, we can secure jobs, create new employment and shape structural change. Saarland can definitely be an ideal showcase for a future hydrogen-based economy. We have to bundle and focus our strengths and I think we are taking an important step with the Hydrogen Agency.`

Photo: © MWIDE