BERLIN–“Germany is a strong industrial nation with global leading companies in future areas. For a successful ramp-up of the hydrogen economy, strong private sector engagement is needed. So our message is: The time to act is now! Therefore, the German government is setting up the necessary regulatory framework, instruments and funding schemes for a swift ramp-up of hydrogen,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a live address to CEOs and senior executives from the world’s leading businesses and investors in hydrogen at the Hydrogen Council’s 2024 International CEO Event today.
Sanjiv Lamba, Hydrogen Council Co-Chair and CEO of Linde, said: “The strong commitment from leaders like Chancellor Scholz is critical at a time we work to accelerate hydrogen deployment and deliver tangible benefits for climate, economy and society, while strengthening energy security. I look forward to working with fellow CEO members and government partners through this critical next chapter.”
Chancellor Scholz’s strong message of support for hydrogen comes on the heels of the European and German leadership reaffirming their commitment to accelerate action on hydrogen deployment by 2030. Yesterday, Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Robert Habeck, and the European Commission Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Maroš Šefčovič, met with a global delegation of Hydrogen Council executives advancing public-private dialogue on priority actions to unlock the next stage of hydrogen uptake.
In addition to high-level political engagements, the 200+ CEOs and senior executives who convened in Berlin for the Hydrogen Council’s annual meeting reviewed the state of the hydrogen project pipeline, discussed challenges and opportunities for accelerated investment, and the impacts of government policies, incentives and mandates being implemented across key markets.
Ivana Jemelkova, Hydrogen Council CEO, said: “As our 2024 CEO Event concludes, I am proud that the Hydrogen Council continues to serve as a convener for key conversations and our diverse, global membership is leading the way at this pivotal time for the energy transition. I’d like to congratulate our members, team and partners on a productive meeting and sending a clear message that top industry and policy leaders are ready to work together to move the needle on hydrogen.”
About The Hydrogen Council
The Hydrogen Council is a global CEO-led initiative with a united vision and long-term ambition for hydrogen to accelerate the clean energy transition. It brings together a diverse group of 140 companies from 20 countries across Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Spanning the entire value chain, and including large multinationals, innovative start-ups as well as investors, the Council’s membership represents some $9 trillion in market capitalization, 6.8 million in FTEs and some $6.4 trillion in revenues.
The Council is committed to unlocking the sustainability potential of clean hydrogen, fostering business and technological innovation as drivers for sustainable growth, creating quality jobs and delivering social value. Using its global reach to promote collaboration between industry, governments, investors, and the civil society, the Council provides insights on and pathways for accelerating the deployment of hydrogen ecosystems around the world. It also supports the development of international safety and sustainability standards, paving the way for the deployment of reliable hydrogen solutions at scale.
To find out more visit www.hydrogencouncil.com and follow us on Twitter @HydrogenCouncil and LinkedIn.
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