Minister of Economics NRW visits the Herten Hydrogen Application Center: Innovative Technology

The selected sites symbolizing the development of hydrogen technology in North Rhine-Westphalia were visited by Professor Dr. Andreas Pinkwart, Minister of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitization and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia, at the end of March – including the Hydrogen User Center in Herten. He was received at the site by a delegation consisting of District Director Bodu Klemple, Mayor Matthias Muller and Volker Lindner, Head of h2-netzwerk-ruhr eV
The visit was for the h2 ruhr network and hydrogen coordination for WiN Emscher Lippe GmbH. “We are the leading hydrogen region in North Rhine-Westphalia. With the hydrogen strategy adopted in June 2020, we want to further strengthen this position,” said District Director, Bodo Klimbel.
Mayor Müller said: “Herten has focused on hydrogen for more than 20 years, but we don’t go this route alone, but as part of the Emscher-Lippe regional network and as a member of the h2-netzwerk -ruhr eV”

Network of 55 members

This network is made up of many companies, cities, and universities – there are now 55 members.
On his hydrogen tour, NRW Minister Pinkwart visited Dormagen Chempark, Wuppertal waste-to-energy plant, fuel cell technology center in Duisburg and Anleg GmbH in Wesel, as well as a user center in Herten. He was impressed by Hurten’s commitment: “Success is when luck meets preparation and you are well prepared.”
“We have the opportunity to become the premier hydrogen site in Europe. Many innovative companies and research institutions are already working on finding solutions to the future hydrogen economy,” said Minister Pinkwart of the NRW state government’s plans. The roadmap encouraged North Rhine-Westphalia to focus its energy more on this innovative and climate-friendly technology. “

Ruhr Hydrogen Plant

In a joint discussion, Volker Lindner, Chairman of the Board of Directors of h2-netzwerk-ruhr, requested support at the “Ruhr Hydrogen Laboratory”, a practical and practical research center that is supposed to further promote the development of the region.
Just in time for the minister’s visit, the delegation was able to announce good news. On the same day, the retrofit of the hydrogen filling station at the former site of the Ewald mine in Herten was completed with TÜV approval. In addition to refueling cars with 700 bars, it is now possible to refuel heavy vehicles with 350 bars.