The Hy.Summit.Rhein.Ruhr 2024 commenced with a festive opening gala in Duisburg, attended by key players from politics and business. Among the guests were Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, NRW Minister for Economic Affairs Mona Neubaur, Duisburg's Mayor Sören Link, and the Regional Director of the Ruhr Regional Association, Garrelt Duin. In their speeches, the politicians emphasised the urgency of moving away from fossil fuels and highlighted the Ruhr area as a prime region for the development of a hydrogen economy.

The gala aboard the MS Rheingalaxie provided not only an impressive backdrop but also a platform for high-profile discussions. Representatives from industry, such as Markus Bangen (duisport), Dr. Peter Biele (Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann), Dennis Grimm (thyssenkrupp Steel), and Andreas Reichel (Iqony), reported on concrete projects for the implementation of the energy transition. Gunnar Groebler, President of the Steel Industry Association, added to the discussion about the role of the steel industry in this transformation.

Further important insights were provided by prominent guests, such as Bundestag President Bärbel Bas and Bundestag Member Felix Banaszak, who compared the challenges of change to a marathon: “We are at kilometre 1.5.” Rasmus C. Beck, Managing Director of Duisburg Economic Development, also emphasised the importance of cooperation for a successful transformation of the region.

Following the opening in Duisburg, the HySummit continued with a business forum in Dortmund, before concluding on the third day with a scientific forum in Essen. In Essen, Prof. Dr. Manfred Fischedick from the Wuppertal Institute opened with a keynote address, in which he presented the current status of the hydrogen rollout and pointed out the challenges to achieve climate neutrality by 2045.

Engaged discussions took place at the round tables, particularly at the table moderated by Prof. Harry Hoster, Scientific Director of the ZBT, where discussions were intended to focus on accompanying research for the hydrogen rollout. However, here too, the political and economic framework conditions for the development of the hydrogen economy became the centre of conversation. Despite the focus on the framework conditions, the conclusion was clear: Research is ready to provide solutions early and support the transformation.

The forum was accompanied by a poster exhibition, where ZBT researchers also presented their work on topics such as the effects of frost-thaw cycles on fuel cells, ammonia cracking, and AEMWE technology.