EU-UK Hydrogen Summit 2.0

Following the success of our recent hydrogen summit in London, a follow-up event, Hydrogen Summit 2.0: Developing closer UK, EU & International Relations to Deliver the Net Zero Hydrogen Economy, organized by the Energy Research Accelerator and HyDEX. This event will take place on 1 and 2 July 2024 in Brussels.

Event Details:

• Date: 1 & 2 July 2024
• Time: 14:00 to 17:30 Monday 1 July; 09:00-13:00 Tuesday 2 July
• Location: Press Club Brussels Europe, Rue Froissart 95, 1040 Brussels, Belgium

This invitation-only event will gather key stakeholders from across the EU, UK, and internationally, including policymakers, funders, regulators, innovators, researchers, and industry leaders. We will build upon the discussions initiated in London, aiming to deepen our exploration of the collaborative path forward in developing the net-zero carbon hydrogen economy.

• To share best policy, funding and collaboration practice, including the hydrogen valley concept
• To identify and address hurdles to collaboration, and chart a roadmap to overcome them.
• To discuss core European hydrogen policy and steps for strengthening international cooperation.
• To foster closer international collaboration vital for accelerating the growth of versatile, clean hydrogen.

Programme - Day 1: Mon 1 July

13.45 - 14.00 Registration and refreshments

14.00 – 14.05 - Introduction - Hydrogen beyond borders: a key renewable in delivering the energy transition

Welcome and Opening - Prof Martin Freer Director of Energy Research Accelerator / Birmingham Energy Institute

14.05 - 14.45 - Keynote speech: Michael Liebreich

14.45 – 15.30 - Exploring how the UK & EU are driving the Hydrogen acceleration to deliver Net Zero

Rosalinde van de Vries, Director, Clean Planet, DG RTD, European Commission

Dominik Richter, Senior Office, Trade & International Relations, Hydrogen Europe

Mark Watts, former senior Labour MEP, CEO UKTiE

15.30 – 16.30 - Fostering UK, EU & International research & international collaboration

Anaïs Laporte, Government Relations Manager, Battolyser Systems

Nicole Glanemann, Energy Attaché, Perm Rep of Germany to EU

Helen Andrews-Tipper, Director of Policy, Carbon Trust TBC

Goran Strbac, Imperial College - Role and value of hydrogen in low/zero carbon energy system

16.30 – 16.45 - Refreshment break and Networking

16.45 – 17.30 - Hydrogen Valleys - their critical role in the energy transition journey

Geerte de Jong, HEAVENN Netherlands Hydrogen Valley

Margherita Matzer, WIVA P&G, Austria

Nahid Yazdani, Project Co-investigator, East Midlands Airport Green Futures

17.30 - Conclusions from day 1 & preview of the workshop on day 2

Martin Freer - Developing closer UK, EU & International Relations to Deliver the Net
Zero Hydrogen Economy

Day 2: Tues 2nd July 09:00 - 13:00
Workshop - How Can We Develop Closer UK, EU & international Relations to Deliver the Net Zero Hydrogen Economy?

This deliberative workshop will address the above question in the following four themes, in the context of the presentations made on the 1st day, with a view to producing a report with recommendations which will be shared with the new UK Government and the new European Commission.

All speakers and attendees are invited.

1. Financing and Funding: streamlining funding and creating a business case for a hydrogen economy

2. Policy Frameworks: aligning regulatory processes

3. Collaboration: Hydrogen Valleys, UK & EU, international

4. Workforce Development, Just Transition and Fostering Public Acceptance

HyDEX and the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) organized the UK-EU Hydrogen Summit on 30th April in London, pooling collective expertise to accelerate the transition to a hydrogen economy. If you missed the first event, here's a brief recap of the key takeaways and insights shared by industry leaders and experts:

The Evolution of Hydrogen: From its humble beginnings to its pivotal role in global research and innovation, hydrogen has witnessed a rapid transformative journey. With initiatives like the EU’s Horizon Europe and the UK’s Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, hydrogen's importance has soared, marking a new era of collaboration and innovation.

UK's Commitment to Net Zero: The UK's ambitious net zero investment roadmap underscores its dedication to advancing the hydrogen economy. With significant investments and policy frameworks, the UK is poised to be one of the leaders of the charge towards a sustainable future.

EU's Resolute Commitment: The European Green Deal and initiatives like the Clean Hydrogen Partnership highlight the EU's unwavering dedication to fostering hydrogen innovation. Collaboration with UK counterparts is crucial for driving progress in this arena.

International Collaboration: A key message highlighted the significance of international partnerships and collaboration, particularly with key players like Germany. Building strong ties and sharing best practices is essential for accelerating the hydrogen economy globally.

Project Highlights: Our experts shared valuable insights into groundbreaking projects like HyNET and Tees Green Hydrogen. These projects not only demonstrate the feasibility of hydrogen but also pave the way for large-scale adoption.

Policy Frameworks and Funding: Policy wise the EU's extensive funding programs were outlined, including Horizon Europe and the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, which are instrumental in driving hydrogen innovation across various sectors.

Workforce Development and Just Transition: Discussions emphasized the importance of workforce development and ensuring a just transition for workers and communities dependent on high-emission industries.

Future Outlook: With promising developments like the Hydrogen Valley in the Netherlands and Germany's H2Global strategy, the future of hydrogen looks bright. However, challenges need to be overcome, including securing public acceptance, streamlining funding processes, aligning regulatory processes and fostering international collaboration.

At the EU-UK Hydrogen Summit 2.0 as we delve deeper into these topics, address how we can collaborate to overcome the challenges, and chart the course for a hydrogen-powered future.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Press Club Brussels Europe, 95 Rue Froissart, Bruxelles, Belgium