H2eart for Europe

❗️ Exclusive H2eart for Europe Interview: Georg Dorfleutner on Underground Hydrogen Storage ❗️   🚀 We are excited to share with you our exclusive interview with Georg Dorfleutner, Managing Director at RAG Energy Storage GmbH, Austria. As a dedicated member of the H2eart for Europe Alliance, Georg is committed to advancing underground hydrogen storage as a key enabler of Europe's energy transition.   📊 In this interview, Georg Dorfleutner shares his insights on the challenges and opportunities that come with creating an effective hydrogen market and necessary infrastructure for UHS.    👉 Watch below to hear Georg Dorfleutner's perspective! 

⁉️Hydrogen and flexibility? isn't that something we talk about in the power sector? Well, think again. Flexibility is as well crucial for hydrogen infrastructure, especially when production is based on volatile renewable energies while most demand is relatively stable. This mismatch creates significant challenges, particularly for transport infrastructure — where repurposed pipelines, for instance, can't handle many excessive pressure swings. ⏩ What are the options? A range of assets across the hydrogen value chain could help balance this mismatch, e.g.: 🔹 Upstream: Batteries and hydrogen storage to manage production fluctuations. 🔹 Midstream: Hydrogen storage to smooth out pressure variations in transport infrastructure. 🔹 Downstream: Demand-side management to adapt consumption to availability. ⚒️ Who needs to act? Flexibility isn't just the task of Transmission System Operators (TSOs). A collaborative effort across the entire value chain is essential to keep additional cost to a minimum: ✅ Producers must integrate storage solutions early on. ✅ Infrastructure operators need to account for volatility challenges and push storage development. ✅ Consumers should engage in demand-side flexibility. But isn't simply underground hydrogen storage the solution? 💡Hydrogen storage is key but unlikely to be implemented in time due to regulatory and economic hurdles. Additionally, not only seasonal but also daily or hourly flexibility is required, which large storages might struggle to provide. Solving these issues will be critical for an efficient and scalable hydrogen economy. 🗨️ Check out our overview slides for a bit more detail or contact us - happy to discuss!

🌍 H2eart for Europe: Key Insights from our Interactive Knowledge Session - Strategic Prioritisation: Defining Next Steps for UHS Implementation 🚀   During the afternoon of our event on the 6th of March, our participants took part in an interactive knowledge session to define the next steps for UHS implementation, focusing on market design, regulatory frameworks, financing, and project developments. These fruitful discussion led a to a clear set of priorities to drive progress:   🔎Priorities and next steps for UHS implementation for the next 6 months: ✅ Furthering integrated network planning across energy markets (electricity, gas, hydrogen) with UHS at its core ✅ Advocating for a clear scale-up path for UHS as part of the EU’s clean transition ✅ Removing permitting roadblocks in Member states by collaborating with local authorities and sharing best practices ✅ Creating a long-term business case for UHS to trigger FIDs.   🔑 This collaborative effort reinforces the importance of policy, financing, and market design in scaling up Europe's hydrogen infrastructure. H2eart for Europe remains committed to driving action and over the next few weeks we will continue to work on the outcomes of these discussions and develop concrete follow-up steps to maintain momentum. 🤝A huge thank you to all participants who were present at our event for demonstrating such inspiring collaboration and valuable insights!   Michael Schmöltzer Georg Dorfleutner Verena Friedl Dr. Susanne Schmidt Matthias Schimmel Eric Lamboley Jaap Peterse Helena Megrelis Noor Vissram Silvia Yordanova Neyl Loukil-Borrás Helena Lönnberg #HydrogenStorage #EnergyTransition #H2Infrastructure #EURegulation #H2eartForEurope

🌍 H2eart for Europe: Key Insights from Our Second Panel – Bridging the hydrogen storage investment gap🚀   Our second panel at the H2eart for Europe event focused on addressing the critical issue of bridging the market gap in hydrogen storage development. With the hydrogen market still in its early stages, our panelists highlighted the importance of structured support mechanisms to ensure bankability and investor confidence.   🔎Key takeaways: ✅ Building a business case for UHS - A clear business case for UHS needs to be developed and centred on the flexibility value UHS can provide to the network with the increasing share of renewables. ✅ There is a need for unlocking further electrification of the EU energy system and increasing energy security. ✅ Panelists and audience reflected a growing consensus on the need for targeted financial instruments, such as Contracts-for-Difference and minimum revenue floor mechanisms.   A huge thank you to our panelists for their valuable insights! Stay tuned for more takeaways from our workshop sessions on market design, regulatory frameworks, project development, and financing.   Csilla Bartok Anne-Sophie Corbeau Georg Dorfleutner James Kneebone Roland H. W. Schulze Matthias Schimmel Dr. Susanne Schmidt Nathalie Croisé #HydrogenStorage #EnergyTransition #H2Infrastructure #EURegulation #H2eartForEurope 

🌍 H2eart for Europe: Key Insights from Our First Panel – Regulatory and Market Developments for UHS 🚀 Our first panel at the H2eart for Europe event focused on the transposition of the “EU Decarbonised Gas and Hydrogen Package” into national legislation. While this marks a significant milestone for Europe’s hydrogen infrastructure, panelists agreed that further “regulatory clarity and coordination” are essential for a smooth and timely implementation. 🔎Key takeaways: ✅ The legislative framework lays the groundwork for a European hydrogen market ramp-up, but financial risks persist. ✅ Pragmatism is key—accelerating UHS project development requires a balanced approach to regulation and investment risk. ✅ Standardised permitting procedures and integrated network planning will be crucial to ensure a coherent and efficient hydrogen infrastructure across Europe. A huge thank you to our panelists for their valuable insights! Stay tuned for more takeaways from our discussions on financial mechanisms and market creation. Ines Bouacida Jorgo Chatzimarkakis Abel Enríquez Leigh Hancher Benedikt Klauser Nathalie Croisé #HydrogenStorage #EnergyTransition #H2Infrastructure #EURegulation #H2eartForEurope

🌍H2eart for Europe: Successful Workshop “Advancing EU Infrastructure through national Gas Package implementation: Connecting policy, financial support mechanisms and market creation” in Brussels! 🚀 On March 6th, H2eart for Europe hosted a high-level workshop in Brussels to discuss the EU Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Market Package and explore strategies for bridging the hydrogen storage development gap. The event brought together policymakers, regulatory authorities, industry leaders, and financial institutions 🔑 Key discussions centered on the critical role of Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS) in creating a resilient, decarbonised energy system. We explored the regulatory, financial, and technical measures needed to unlock investment and drive market growth, ensuring alignment between national and European strategies. 🤝 A huge thank you to all our members, panelists, and participants for the insightful discussions and contributions! 📅 We will be sharing more debriefs and key takeaways next week—stay tuned! EWE AG Gasunie @Hungarian Gas Storage NAFTA Speicher Inzenham GmbH OMV RAG Austria AG RWE Snam S.p.A. STORAG ETZEL GmbH STORENGY Teréga Uniper VNG Gasspeicher GmbH Dr. Susanne Schmidt Csilla Bartok Anne-Sophie Corbeau Georg Dorfleutner Matthias Schimmel Roland H. W. Schulze James Kneebone Nathalie Croisé #H2eartForEurope #HydrogenStorage #Decarbonisation #UHS #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #EUworkshop

📢Join H2eart for Europe tomorrow ! 1 more day until the H2eart for Europe Workshop - Advancing EU Infrastructure through National Gas Package Implementation📢   💬Join us tomorrow, March 6th in Brussels for an in-depth discussion on the regulatory, financial, and market frameworks needed to accelerate underground hydrogen storage (UHS) across Europe. The successful implementation of the "EU Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Market Package" is critical to Europe’s energy transition.    📌 This full-day workshop will convene high-level policymakers, industry leaders, and key stakeholders to address:   ✅Challenges and opportunities in transposing the EU Gas Package into national legislation ✅Strategies to bridge the hydrogen storage development gap and secure investments ✅Key priorities for advancing UHS projects in alignment with EU climate objectives   📅Date: March 6, 2025   📍Location: The Hotel, Brussels   🤝Join us in shaping Europe’s hydrogen infrastructure! Register now and be part of the conversation.   🔑 Still want to join us? Register via this link: https://lnkd.in/eFgNRmj3 #H2eart #H2eartForEurope #UHS #Hydrogenstorage #Hydrogen #HydrogenMarket #UndergroundHydrogenStorage #SecurityOfSupply #SustainableEnergy #UHS #HydrogenStorage #Workshop #Brussels #EUHydrogenandDecarbonisedGasMarketPackage

🚀Meet our speaker: Dr. Susanne Schmidt 🚀 💡We are honored to welcome Dr. Susanne Schmidt, Representant from INES - Initiative Energien Speichern e.V., as a distinguished panelist at the H2eart for Europe Workshop on March 6, 2025, in Brussels. 🌏Dr. Susanne Schmidt will join our first panel of the day: “Bridging the hydrogen storage development gap: securing investments”. This panel will address the gap between regulatory intentions and the practical challenges of securing investments for hydrogen storage. 💡Over the next few days, we will be introducing the rest of our panelists 1 by 1 and how their background will contribute to our discussions on March 6th. ❗Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from these thought leaders and engage in discussions that will shape the future of hydrogen storage in Europe. 📅Date: March 6, 2025 📍Location, The Hotel, Brussels 👉🏻Join us! Registration Link: https://lnkd.in/eFgNRmj3 #H2eart #H2eartForEurope #UHS #Hydrogenstorage #Hydrogen #HydrogenMarket #UndergroundHydrogenStorage #SecurityOfSupply #SustainableEnergy #UHS #HydrogenStorage #Workshop #Brussels #EUHydrogenandDecarbonisedGasMarketPackage

🚀Meet our speaker: James Kneebone 🚀 💡We are honored to welcome James Kneebone, Research Associate at the Florence School of Regulation, as a distinguished panelist at the H2eart for Europe Workshop on March 6, 2025, in Brussels. 🌏 James Kneebone will join our second panel of the day: “Bridging the hydrogen storage development gap: securing investments”. This panel will address the gap between regulatory intentions and the practical challenges of securing investments for hydrogen storage. 📢About James Kneebone: James Kneebone is a research associate at the Florence School of Regulation, specialised on European hydrogen policy and the drive to decarbonizing the European gas sector. Before joining the Florence School of Regulation, James worked in the DG ENER of the European Commission, focusing on security of supply and the EU Methane strategy. In his recent publications, James covered infrastructure planning for hydrogen transportation, hydrogen financing mechanisms in the EU, and the issue of ensuring justice in the development of renewable hydrogen trade with African stakeholders. 💡Over the next few days, we will be introducing the rest of our panelists 1 by 1 and how their background will contribute to our discussions on March 6th. ❗Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from these thought leaders and engage in discussions that will shape the future of hydrogen storage in Europe. 📅Date: March 6, 2025 📍Location, The Hotel, Brussels 👉🏻Join us Registration Link: https://lnkd.in/eFgNRmj3 #H2eart #H2eartForEurope #UHS #Hydrogenstorage #Hydrogen #HydrogenMarket #UndergroundHydrogenStorage #SecurityOfSupply #SustainableEnergy #UHS #HydrogenStorage #Workshop #Brussels #EUHydrogenandDecarbonisedGasMarketPackage

🚀Meet our speaker: Roland H. W. Schulze 🚀 💡We are honored to welcome Roland H. W. Schulze, Managerial Adviser, Low Carbon Energy Technologies, at the European Investment Bank (EIB), as a distinguished panelist at the H2eart for Europe Workshop on March 6, 2025, in Brussels. 🌏 Roland H. W. Schulze will join our second panel of the day: “Bridging the hydrogen storage development gap: securing investments”. This panel will address the gap between regulatory intentions and the practical challenges of securing investments for hydrogen storage. 📢About Roland H. W. Schulze Roland H. W. Schulze is the Managerial Adviser for Low Carbon Energy Technologies at the European Investment Bank (EIB) since 2016. He has over 25 years of experience in the energy sector, having spent 22 of those years with the EIB. In his role he provides technical advisory and project appraisal services, covering due diligence activities of energy sector projects in conventional and renewable energy. Before becoming the Managerial Adviser for Low Carbon Energy Technologies, Roland managed the assessment of project applications for innovative low carbon energy technologies submitted under the NER300 Initiative as Head of Unit. Prior to his work at the EIB, Roland worked as a Specialist Engineer for Boilers and Power Plant Equipment at EWE, and as a Projects Director in the Thermal Waste Treatment Department at Fichtner Consulting Engineers. 💡Over the next few days, we will be introducing the rest of our panelists 1 by 1 and how their background will contribute to our discussions on March 6th. ❗Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from these thought leaders and engage in discussions that will shape the future of hydrogen storage in Europe. 📅Date: March 6, 2025 📍Location, The Hotel, Brussels 👉🏻Join us! Registration Link: https://lnkd.in/eFgNRmj3 #H2eart #H2eartForEurope #UHS #Hydrogenstorage #Hydrogen #HydrogenMarket #UndergroundHydrogenStorage #SecurityOfSupply #SustainableEnergy #UHS #HydrogenStorage #Workshop #Brussels #EUHydrogenandDecarbonisedGasMarketPackage