Homburg, 25.05.2022 - Many automotive suppliers are having to rethink their production due to the shift towards more sustainable drive systems. In Saarland, the Bosch plant in Homburg is currently in the process of gradually restructuring its production from diesel technology for cars and trucks to hydrogen technologies. Yesterday, Manuela Ripa, Member of the European Parliament for the Ecological Democratic Party (ÖDP) in Saarland, visited the Homburg plant. On site, she gained an impression of the production of technologies for the use of hydrogen. Among those taking part in the plant tour were members of the Bundestag Nadine Schön and Markus Uhl as well as the former Saarland Minister for Economic Affairs and Labor Hanspeter Georgi.

After the tour, Ripa explained: "The topic of hydrogen is of crucial importance for a decarbonized economy. In the wake of the war in Ukraine, the EU Commission has decided to step up the pace even further in the development of a European hydrogen infrastructure. The REPowerEU package of measures presented last Wednesday provides for 10 million tons of green hydrogen to be produced in the EU and 10 million tons to be imported by 2030. Today's visit is therefore an ideal opportunity to understand how and by what means theory can be put into practice."

Bosch is investing a total of around 1.6 billion euros in the hydrogen sector over the coming years and is focusing on three major future markets: mobile fuel cells, stationary fuel cells and components for electrolysers, which are necessary for the production of hydrogen. During the plant tour, the MEP and the other participants had the opportunity to gain an insight into the processes of all three major future markets.

"In order to master climate change and become independent of Russian energy, we need to be open to new technologies. I am delighted that the Bosch plant in Saarland is to become one of the Group's lead plants for hydrogen technologies. The production of a hydrogen engine requires about as many workers as are needed for a combustion engine. Focusing on hydrogen as the mobility of the future alongside electric cars will therefore also secure sustainable jobs in the long term, including here in Saarland," said Ripa.

In particular, Bosch would like to see further important projects of common European interest ( IPCEI) at European level to facilitate cooperation in the hydrogen sector.

After the tour of the plant, Manuela Ripa stated: "The example of Bosch shows how enormous the task is for European companies if 20 million tons of green hydrogen are to be produced and imported annually by 2030. I hope that Bosch will find attractive investment opportunities for the industrial production of electrolyzers in Saarland. The proximity to Saarstahl is an excellent prerequisite for this.