In Thuringia, trains, trucks and buses are to be powered by fuel cells, buildings are to be cooled or heated by means of hydrogen technologies, and the gas is to serve as storage for the electricity from sun and wind.
Erfurt–The fuel cell should be a building block of the energy system in the Free State, said Environment Minister Anja Siegesmund (Green) yesterday in Erfurt. More than 200 scientists met on the 1st Thuringian Hydrogen Conference in the Congress Center. Politicians and entrepreneurs talked about the potential of the hydrogen for a successful traffic and heat conversion in Thuringia .
“Given the current climate change debate, I expect a boost for this technology,” said the Minister of the Environment. They want to make the country fit, that “the innovative technology here on the ground combines economic power and climate protection successfully,” says Siegesmund. That was good for the people and the climate.
The conference will also be the prelude to the development of a hydrogen strategy for Thuringia , announced the Minister. Their goal will be to develop the country into a model region for the technology.
Jule Verne once said that water will be the coal of the future, explained Mark Jentsch from the Bauhaus University Weimar . “Today we know how this is technically feasible,” says the scientist. Together with the economy and politics, it should be possible to close the remaining economic gap. You need a start-up financing to establish a new system in the market, said Jentsch.
Germany must not miss the opportunity
The bosses of the Thuringian energy and greentech agency Dieter Sell pointed out that the representatives of large corporations such as MAN or Evonik had been able to bring together local mayors from Thuringia . The great interest in the topic also proves the fact that one third of the participants came from other federal states.
It is going much too slowly when introducing hydrogen technology, criticized René Himmelstein from Maximator GmbH in Nordhausen . He warned against the activities in California and China that Germany should not miss the opportunity.
Alternative drive in the bus is feasible
The Thuringian bus association also welcome the political commitment to alternative energy sources in public transport, the association said. “Our companies have a wealth of experience with various alternative drives. You can build on that, “says Mario König, head of the Association of Central German Bus Companies.
“The alternative drive in the bus is feasible. We can use everything, be it biogas, electricity or liquid bio fuels. Hydrogen can also be a good solution, “says König . However, everything must be financially viable and sustainable in the long term.
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