Newfoundland and Labrador is welcoming a delegation from the City of Hamburg, Germany representing hydrogen companies and service providers in the energy industry. The visit will take place from October 19 to 20, and will be headed by Senator Dr. Melanie Leonhard, Minister for Economy and Innovation for the City of Hamburg.
The Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology will welcome the delegation to the province at a reception today (Thursday, October 19). The event takes place at The Rooms, Third Floor, 9 Bonaventure Avenue, St. John’s at 6:30 p.m.
The goals of the delegation are to strengthen ties between the province and the City of Hamburg relating to hydrogen production and the export of hydrogen to Europe via Hamburg’s ports, and to identify common ground for future collaboration in wind energy. The delegation’s visit provides the Provincial Government with an opportunity to showcase Newfoundland and Labrador’s strategic advantages in the development of wind energy and the production of green hydrogen. Newfoundland and Labrador is one of only two North American locations Dr. Leonhard will visit this year.
Delegates will make direct connections with government officials and industry stakeholders in the provincial wind-hydrogen industry, to support the establishment of hydrogen supply chains that can enable a transatlantic hydrogen industry. Green hydrogen is a clean, emissions-free fuel source in increasingly high demand, as key Canadian trading partners such as Germany seek alternatives to fossil fuels to transition to a low-carbon economy while ensuring their energy security.
This visit builds on previous bilateral cooperation between Germany and Canada and previous collaboration between the Provincial Government and the City of Hamburg. On September 27, 2022, the Provincial Government and the City of Hamburg signed a Declaration of Intent that aims to encourage the establishment of hydrogen supply chains that will result in exports of green hydrogen from the province to Germany. It followed the signing of the Declaration of Intent to establish a Canada-Germany Hydrogen Alliance between the Governments of Canada and Germany, which took place on August 23, 2022 in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador. The signing of the declaration in Stephenville highlighted the significant potential of Newfoundland and Labrador’s renewable energy resources, in particular its wind resources, and the opportunity to bring them to the global marketplace in the form of green hydrogen.
Germany has the largest economy in Europe and fourth-largest in the world, and the country forecasts that by 2030 it will only be able to meet 30 to 40 per cent of its own hydrogen demand through domestic production. Germany’s National Hydrogen Strategy, which was released in June 2020, made €7 billion available to support green hydrogen projects within Germany, and a further €2 billion available for establishing green hydrogen partnerships with other countries.
“I am pleased to welcome Senator Dr. Leonhard and the Hamburg delegation to Newfoundland and Labrador. Our jurisdictions continue to work closely as we build a thriving green hydrogen economy. This province’s strategic location and wealth of resources, combined with Hamburg’s strong economic and technical capacities and access to large European markets, provides great opportunities for both jurisdictions. This visit will build on recent initiatives government has undertaken to show the world what this province has to offer, and will help maximize the province’s economic potential for the benefit of all residents.” Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology.
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