The Role of Hydrogen for a Sustainable Future

Author: Lena Straubinger

Oct 23, 2024 Sustainability / Behind the scenes / Innovation

DEKRA at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference and World Hydrogen Week in Copenhagen

How can we drive the global shift toward cleaner energy and a climate-neutral future? In the search for sustainable forms of energy, hydrogen is gaining increasing relevance. At the Hamburg Sustainability Conference and World Hydrogen Week in Copenhagen, experts from all industries gathered to explore pressing challenges. We compiled the key topics that moved participants.

Businesses across the globe that are seeking to improve sustainability face several challenges. Balancing environmental goals with financial performance is challenging, as sustainable practices often require significant upfront investments. Companies also must navigate complex regulations and industry standards, which vary across regions. Additionally, shifting to greener operations may disrupt existing supply chains and require retraining staff. Despite these hurdles, the long-term benefits of adopting sustainable practices—such as cost savings, improved reputation, and future-proofing—make the effort worthwhile.
Collaboration and ongoing exchange with industry leaders are central to these efforts, enabling the sharing of expertise, addressing environmental challenges, and developing innovative, sustainable solutions together – most recently at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference and the World Hydrogen Week in Copenhagen.
First of its kind: The Hamburg Sustainability Conference
The Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) was held for the first time on October 7-8, 2024. It’s a new global platform with participants from over 70 countries focusing on accelerating the progress of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Organized by key players like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the City of Hamburg, the event brings together policymakers, business leaders, and civil society representatives from across the world. Germany’s Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz was among the keynote speakers, underscoring the urgency of collaborative action to address global challenges.

What is needed to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral economy?

Key themes of the 2024 conference included, among many others, green finance innovations, the role of blockchain in sustainability, digital environmental sustainability, and the responsible use of AI for development. Among the most popular and pressing issues: Hydrogen, becoming essential for a sustainable energy future, with its potential to decarbonize sectors like transport and industry.
However, unlocking its full potential requires significant investment in production, infrastructure, and technology. At the conference, experts emphasized the need to empower private investments, especially in developing countries, where green hydrogen projects face high risks and costs. DEKRA CEO Stan Zurkiewicz agrees: “Hydrogen is a cornerstone of the global energy transition. Yet, to fully unlock its potential, we must effectively manage the risks that hinder private investments, and build a reliable, trustworthy, safe, and sustainable ecosystem.”
Key strategies were discussed to manage these risks, leveraging private capital and innovation for a more resilient energy future. Other related issues covered in Hamburg included discussions on the Hamburg Charter. This emphasized the need for equitable transitions to zero-emission transport, focusing on the inclusion of women and marginalized groups in the workforce. Collaborations among the private sector, labor organizations, and policymakers were deemed crucial for fostering sustainable transport systems and creating job opportunities.
The World Hydrogen Week in Copenhagen
The World Hydrogen Week 2024 in Copenhagen, Denmark brought together over 3,500 hydrogen professionals for a week of in-depth discussions, innovation showcases, and networking events. The event, held from September 30 to October 4, focused on advancing the role of hydrogen in the clean energy transition. Key highlights included the return of the World Hydrogen Congress and World Hydrogen Derivatives, as well as the debut of the "Innovate to Net Zero Summit" aimed at decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors.

The pathway to a safe and scalable hydrogen infrastructure

In spotlight in both major events, hydrogen has emerged as a pivotal element in the transition towards a sustainable energy future, offering potential as a clean, versatile energy carrier capable of decarbonizing various sectors, from transportation to industrial processes. The week-long event in Copenhagen emphasized the importance of hydrogen in decarbonizing industries, transportation, and energy, underscoring its critical role in meeting global climate targets.
During the week, DEKRA experts, including CEO Stan Zurkiewicz, Policy Officer Elija Leib, and Vice President of Hydrogen Program Management Christoph Flink, played a key role in panel discussions and presentations. Their insights emphasized that while hydrogen holds enormous potential, its success hinges on robust risk management, enhanced international collaboration, and the development of streamlined regulatory frameworks. These elements are critical for building a safe, reliable, and scalable hydrogen ecosystem capable of supporting the global energy transition. “Together, we must ensure that both the physical and digital infrastructure of hydrogen projects are optimized for safety and scalability,” Stan Zurkiewicz concludes.

Behind the scenes – what you need to know about current hydrogen developments

What is required to ensure a safe and sustainable installation of green hydrogen and its implications? This central question was explored alongside the steps necessary to expedite the transition to a carbon-neutral economy in a panel talk by Elija Leib. A session by Dr. Christopher Flink looked at the potential of low-carbon hydrogen options like nuclear energy and natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS) and explored whether incorporating blue hydrogen alongside green alternatives could enable a more seamless and scalable shift to green hydrogen sourced from renewables. Multi-time panelist Stan Zurkiewicz not only spoke about global approaches to green hydrogen but strongly advocated „for a global forum on hydrogen safety and risk management, where certification bodies like DEKRA can lead the way.”
The most important figures on green hydrogen
Green hydrogen is set to play a critical role in reducing emissions in energy-intensive sectors like steel and ammonia production, while also providing emission-free process heat for industries such as paper and glass. Additionally, hydrogen fuels next-generation vehicles for zero-emission transportation. Clean hydrogen typically is generated via electrolysis, harnessing renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. Production is anticipated to achieve competitive pricing by 2030.
DEKRA is focused on facilitating a safe transition to a hydrogen-based economy and is actively working to become one of the first TIC companies to provide EU-recognized green hydrogen certification services and is already providing ISCC+ certification for circular and bio-based products, renewables, food, feed & biofuels outside the framework of the EU REDII regulation.

Some key facts …

  • 20 million tons of green hydrogen will be produced or imported into the EU by 2030 according to REPowerEU targets
  • 9,700 kilometers of hydrogen pipelines are planned in Germany’s core network by 2032
  • About 60% of the total length will involve the repurposing of existing natural gas pipelines
  • 42% of the hydrogen used in industry in Europe in 2030 must be renewable. These are mandatory usage targets of the Renewable Energy Directive set by the European Council in 2023.