The Belgian Hydrogen Council (BHC), NLHydrogen (NLH) and the German National Hydrogen Council (NWR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on May 13, 2024, reaffirming their commitment to joint initiatives to promote the hydrogen economy in Northwest Europe.
Trilateral Memorandum of Understanding
The MOU builds on the long-standing cooperation and mutual support between Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. It aims to create a platform for cooperation between industries, governments, universities, research institutes and civil societies to promote innovation and sustainability in the hydrogen sector.
The main objectives of the MOU are the joint publication of papers, the broad introduction of hydrogen technologies and the support of the integration of hydrogen into the renewable energy landscape in line with European directives such as RED II/III (Renewable Energy Directive II/III).
The three parties believe that this cooperation will bring broad market benefits by promoting joint initiatives in market and technology development, policy, regulation and stakeholder communication.
Cross-border cooperation between Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany
Jacqueline Vaessen, Acting Director of NLHydrogen, expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration, saying: “The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany are historically the main users of hydrogen in Europe and we face similar challenges in the production and use of clean hydrogen in different sectors. Working together with other associations to address these challenges will foster the development of the hydrogen market in the three countries.”
Seamless cross-border cooperation between Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany is prioritized to maximize the impact of hydrogen initiatives at a regional level.
Tom Hautekiet, Chairman of the Belgian Hydrogen Council, said: “Importing green hydrogen from countries with sufficient wind, sun and space into the European industry is an important step towards achieving the European climate targets. Belgium and the Netherlands will be important hubs for transporting hydrogen to German industry. This also includes the harmonization of regulations and the implementation of common infrastructures for import, offtake and transport. In this way, we can create a robust ecosystem and establish an import hub in Northwest Europe. These joint efforts will not only benefit our Belgian industry, but also contribute to the prosperity of the entire region.”
The MOU outlines several key activities to be implemented as part of this collaboration, including information sharing, joint meetings and workshops, collaboration on events and joint communication and publication of results.
“The Memorandum of Understanding represents a new milestone in our joint efforts towards a sustainable energy future. We will leverage our expertise and resources to make significant progress in the deployment and integration of hydrogen technologies. This will open up new opportunities, accelerate technological progress and pave the way for a hydrogen-powered Europe,” said Katherina Reiche, Chair of the National Hydrogen Council.
The signing of this MOU marks a significant step forward in the joint efforts of Belgian, Dutch and German industries, universities, research institutes and civil societies to promote innovation and the widespread deployment of hydrogen technologies in Europe. It also sends a strong signal to the respective governments that cooperation between neighboring EU countries is crucial for the development of hydrogen technologies.
Background information
The Belgian Hydrogen Council (BHC) is a leading organization dedicated to the promotion of hydrogen technologies and the promotion of sustainability in Belgium and throughout Europe.
NLHydrogen (NLH) is a prominent advocate for the introduction of hydrogen technologies and the integration of renewable energy in the Netherlands. NLH works to drive innovation and collaboration within the sector.
The task of the National Hydrogen Council (NWR) is to advise and support the German State Secretary Committee for Hydrogen with proposals and recommendations for action in the implementation and further development of the National Hydrogen Strategy (NWS).
