This week, Germany, France and the EU Commission met at the highest government level for the Franco-German video summit and also discussed how renewable hydrogen can be the driving force behind an environmentally friendly, CO2-free steel industry.

Specifically, the German government is planning a hydrogen strategy of around seven billion euros, plus two billion euros to promote the import of renewably produced hydrogen. France also plans to invest seven billion euros in hydrogen projects by 2030. In addition to the money from Germany and France, there are also numerous EU funds that can promote the production and expansion of a network for renewable hydrogen in both countries. And Saarland, in particular, can also benefit from these investments.

Thanks to the mediation efforts of Saarland ÖDP MEP Manuela Ripa, Saarland was represented at the Franco-German summit by Tim Hartmann, CEO of #Saarstahl and Dillinger Hütte.

 

In the Saarland-French border region, plans are already underway with the relevant network operators to convert existing pipelines to hydrogen. In addition, Saarland itself wants to produce hydrogen at the Fenne power plant. In particular, Dillinger Hütte could be one of the first companies to benefit directly from the cross-border hydrogen network and switch to climate-friendly production.

Manuela Ripa commented: "The good thing is that President Macron and Chancellor Merkel have been told by CEO Hartmann that we in Saarland can become a direct customer for hydrogen and are in a position to put the whole thing into practice. Especially as less conversion work would be required in Saarland than at other locations or plants."

 

Click here for the full article in the Saarbrücker Zeitung: bit.ly/3lFJbIP