H2-diplo - Decarbonization Diplomacy

⭐ As 2024 comes to an end, we want to reflect on a successful year for #H2diplo This year, we hosted a series of exciting events and conducted several insightful analyses to advance the dialogue on the role of hydrogen and its derivatives in decarbonizing and diversifying economies. It is always a pleasure to bring together so many interesting people in our partner countries and beyond and exchange ideas with them! A heartfelt thank you to all our speakers, co-organisers and to everyone who participated in our events as well as to our partners in our partner countries for your continued trust and engagement! We look forward to continuing this journey with you in 2025! We wish you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! ❄️

We are thrilled to have contributed to this insigtful event at COP16Riyadh through the Head of our H2-diplo - Decarbonization Diplomacy Office Saudi Arabia - Quentin Dominique Blommaert. 🌍💡 Together, we are paving the way for a sustainable future! 💚 #EnergyTransition #Sustainability #InternationalCooperation

📣 The German-Nigerian Hydrogen Office (H2-diplo - Decarbonization Diplomacy) participated in the 1st Nigerian Hydrogen conference in Abuja, Nigeria. For Nigeria, this event marks significant steps towards joining the global hydrogen economy and promoting clean energy solutions. 🌐 The event was organized by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria and the Foundation for Sustainable Social Responsibility in Emerging Africa (FOSSREA). Representatives from government, industry, academia, and international organizations gathered to explore hydrogen technologies and policy frameworks. The event was a strategic initiative aimed at driving sustainable economic growth, enhancing energy security and contributing to global climate goals by advancing hydrogen adoption as a clean energy solution in Nigeria and international markets. ♨️ Key Highlights: - Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of Gas, highlighted Nigeria’s progress in hydrogen governance, especially at the national and sub-national levels.  - In his remark the Deputy Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Nigeria, Johannes Lehne, stated that “Germany remains committed to supporting Nigeria with its energy transition". - Hon. Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, spoke on recent strides that have been made developing the hydrogen sector in Nigeria. He noted that through the Energy Commission of Nigeria, the Ministry is working on a national hydrogen policy and first pilot projects. - During the panel presentation, Duke Benjamin, Cluster Coordinator Just Transition and Inclusion at GIZ Nigeria & ECOWAS, said that from a GIZ/German perspective, significant amounts of funds have gone into green hydrogen investments in the form of RnD, prototyping, and reference/pilot projects in developing countries, including Nigeria. - Kristina (Tina) Fürst, Head of the German-Nigerian Hydrogen Office, gave a presentation on the status of low-carbon hydrogen in Nigeria and highlighted the various GIZ Nigeria & ECOWAS hydrogen projects. - Bassey Obeten, Advisor at the German-Nigerian Hydrogen Office, remarked that there is a need for a clear and well-defined national hydrogen policy, designed to meet Nigeria’s national hydrogen objectives and plan.   🎉 Special thanks to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria, the Foundation for Sustainable Social Responsibility in Emerging Africa (FOSSREA), Sani Muazu, PhD for a successful conference. ⚡ H2-diplo - Decarbonization Diplomacy is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, on behalf of the Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office) Germany and financed by the International Climate Initiative. #EnergyTransition #WomeninEnergy #H2DIPLO #AfricanWomenforEnergyTransition #EnergyDiplomacy Photo credit: FOSSREA media unit Duke Benjamin Daniel Onweagba Idiongoabasi Udoh Bassey Obeten Ifeoma Obiasogu Hillary Iruka Elegeonye (B.Sc, M.Sc) Kristina (Tina) Fürst Fabiyi Oluwayemi, CEA®

🇩🇪🇨🇴 H2-diplo - Decarbonization Diplomacy was present at the World Hydrogen Latin America in Santiago, Chile 🗺️ ⚡💧This event organized by World Hydrogen Leaders brought together hundreds of representatives from across the regional and international hydrogen value chain, including developers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, investment funds, international cooperation agencies, and others. The focus was on exploring challenges and opportunities through debates and knowledge-sharing sessions on topics such as production, distribution, ports, maritime transport, end uses, financing, and potential off-takers. Discussions also covered regulations, policies, legislation, certification, and international collaboration from various perspectives. 🌱 🇨🇱 Chile's Energy Minister Diego Pardow highlighted the country’s progress in hydrogen governance, especially at regional and local levels, with the implementation of the Chilean action plan. Updates on project developments in Magallanes and Antofagasta were also shared during the event. 🇧🇷 Brazil showcased the development of a pioneering regulatory framework to promote low-carbon hydrogen, including certification and subsidies.   🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago, currently producing over 1.5 million tons of hydrogen from fossil sources, is the Caribbean's leading player in regional ammonia and methanol trade. The country presented an ambitious vision to reach 4 million tons of low-carbon hydrogen by 2050. 🇨🇴 Juan Manuel Salazar Gómez, advisor to #h2diplo, presented the program's main objectives and highlighted initiatives such as the study on green hydrogen demand incentives with a focus on low-carbon fertilizers, and the Colombia H2 ecosystem as examples of how to advance hydrogen and its derivatives to contribute to decarbonization and diversification through climate-neutral value chains.   🇵🇪 Additionally, during a panel with Diego Reyes Pazos from Cementos Pacasmayo SAA, one of Peru’s leading cement companies, discussions revolved around the challenges and opportunities for decarbonizing the cement sector. Over three days, the summit featured academic and exchange spaces, networking sessions, and presentations on innovative business models, tools, and strategies to capitalize on market growth, overcome regulatory barriers, and foster public-private collaboration. 

🎊 🌍   The German-Nigerian Hydrogen Office  (H2-diplo - Decarbonization Diplomacy) together with the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) and the Global Centre For Law Business And Economy (GCLBE) are thrilled to have hosted the Energy Security Day during the National Climate Change Summit 2024.    📣 The event, themed Securing Energy Access in a Transitioning World, brought together high-level participants, including climate champions, renewable energy experts, and finance and regulatory sector representatives. They convened to discuss securing energy access within the Nigerian context and contributed to the panel topic- Nigeria’s Pathway to Energy Sector Decarbonization for Energy Security. ♨️ Highlights from panel discussion:  The panel members deliberated on the strategies within the energy transition plans that is deployed to encourage private-sector collaboration and incentivize investments across the key Energy Transition Plan pillars in Nigeria.    The panel members also shared insight on how businesses can adopt models that ensure profitability while investing in renewable energy to help address the challenge of making clean energy affordable and reliable for consumers, while meeting decarbonization goals.     Nigeria remains committed to meeting its climate obligation. There is need for increased advocacy and capacity building to help bridge the existing knowledge as Africa continues to push toward a net zero continent.    ⚡ H2-diplo is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) on behalf of the German Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office) Germany and is financed by the International Climate Initiative. #GermanNigerianCooperationAt50  H2-diplo - Decarbonization Diplomacy Joshua Yari Garba Ifeoma Obiasogu Bassey Obeten Benjamin Mukoro,   Duke Benjamin, Sharon Kaburuk, Daniel Onweagba, Alexander Akolo, Ph.D., Ofonama Archibong, Dr. Segun Adaju Fauzia Chevonne O. 

🌱 Green Hydrogen Leadership Roundtable at GABS 2024 🌍 This morning, we had the privilege of facilitating a Green Hydrogen Leadership Roundtable at the 5th German African Business Summit (#GABS2024), jointly hosted by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Nairobi and the H2-diplo - Decarbonization Diplomacy Office Kenya. The event gathered high-level business executives and policymakers from Germany and Kenya. Themed “German-Kenyan Discussion on Key Factors to Foster Private Sector Activities in Green Hydrogen”, the roundtable focused on the critical role of the private sector in advancing the green hydrogen economy, emphasizing collaboration as key to shaping hydrogen markets in Africa. ✍️ Here are our key takeaways: - German-Kenyan cooperation - a success story for Green Hydrogen market preparation since 2020. Relevant strategies and policies were developed in partnership and have attracted developers into the space. - Less preaching more acting: creating win-win partnerships is vital to generating leverage in international cooperation while facing geopolitical shifts. - Money, money, money – costs, specifically electricity costs, need to come down to create bankable business cases. - De-risking of green hydrogen investments is crucial and includes efforts from the public, private, and financial sectors. 🤝 As African countries and Germany strengthen their energy collaboration, it’s clear that green hydrogen will play a pivotal role in shaping sustainable futures across continents. We look forward to seeing how these discussions will translate into impactful initiatives in the months ahead! #GABS2024 #GreenHydrogen #Sustainability #PrivateSectorLeadership #PrivateSectorInnovation #GermanAfricanPartnership 

Exciting Developments in Renewable Energy! 🌱 On November 12, 2024, H2-diplo had the privilege of organizing a collaborative event in Jeddah, bringing together 30 participants from universities, governmental and non-governmental institutions as well as industry leaders. The discussions focused on the advancements and challenges in renewable energy and clean technologies in Saudi Arabia, aligning with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our esteemed speakers for their valuable insights: Philipp Dienstbier (Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung) Husain Almakrami (Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu) Aziz Nechache (KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)) Abdulaziz AlTurki (King AbdulAziz University) Saumitra Saxena (KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)) Nabih Cherradi (desert technologies) Saif Bdeir (HAALA | Energy) Thorsten Rauch (Nesma Renewable Energy) The event highlighted critical discussions on green hydrogen, CCUS technologies, and the importance of local content in project development. We emphasized the need for collaboration among academia, industry, and government to overcome challenges and drive the transition to renewable energy in the region. Together, we are paving the way for a sustainable future! 💚 #RenewableEnergy #H2diplo #Vision2030 #Sustainability #Collaboration #SaudiArabia

Advancing Green Hydrogen for Ukraine's Energy Transition and Reconstruction 🌍🌱   #Ukraine is forging ahead with green hydrogen as a strategic pillar for its green reconstruction, despite ongoing challenges induced by Russia’s war of aggression. Together with the International Power-to-X Hub and #H2Uppp, H2-diplo - Decarbonization Diplomacy Ukraine hosted a side-event at the European Hydrogen Week in #Brussels last week on how to #finance and #derisk Ukraine’s green hydrogen ramp-up. Here are the key takeaways:      🔋 Hydrogen visions for Ukraine: A Ukrainian hydrogen strategy is in the pipeline, with a clear political ambition to engage in this emerging sector. GH2 is not only seen as an economic opportunity but also as a tool for decarbonization, energy decentralization, and further alignment with the EU.   🤝 The role of international collaboration: Partnerships with Germany and the EU bring technical expertise, funding opportunities, and regulatory alignment to the table. At the #EUH2Week2024, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH and N1 Capital signed a Memorandum of Understanding (#MoU) under the #H2Uppp programme to explore a green hydrogen pipeline-bound public-private partnership (#PPP) in Western Ukraine. The MoU aims to assess the feasibility, environmental impacts, and legal requirements for hydrogen feed-in to the Central European Hydrogen Corridor and develop scalable projects in Uzhgorod and Mukachevo, near Poland and Slovakia   🌍 Challenges Ahead: Energy infrastructure risks from ongoing Russian attacks, heavy reliance on foreign capital, and offtake uncertainties impede investment security. Moreover, the chicken-and-egg dilemma is omnipresent in the green hydrogen sector, with potential investors hesitant to commit to large-scale production without guaranteed demand, while potential consumers are reluctant to invest in green hydrogen infrastructure without stable and assured supply.   🚀 Opportunities: Ukraine’s vast natural gas pipeline network can offer possibilities for exporting GH2 to Europe. Abundant wind and solar resources make renewable scaling feasible. Smaller scale pilot-projects can provide valuable learning- and investment experience and pave the way for utility-scale projects.   A huge thank you to all speakers who made this important event possible, as well as to the online and in-person participants who stopped by! Let’s support and explore how collaboration in the hydrogen sector can drive a greener, stronger Ukraine. 🌱🇺🇦   Mykola Kolisnyk Julia Kahrl Dr. Valentyn Gvozdiy Torsten Merkel Mykola Iakovenko Dr. Christian Storost Frank Mischler #GreenHydrogen #EnergyTransition #UkraineReconstruction #Sustainability #InternationalCooperation #H2-diplo #EUH2Week2024 

🤩 Yesterday, our H2-diplo Office in Astana was happy to host a conference on “International cooperation for Kazakhstan’s Energy Transition” for the opening of the “Energy in Transition – Powering Tomorrow” travelling exhibition’s visit at Nazarbayev University in Astana.   The conference marks the official opening of the exhibition including welcoming words of Nazarbayev University’s president Prof. Waqar Ahmad, her Excellency, the Ambassador of Germany to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Monika Iwersen, the Ambassador of the EU to Kazakhstan, Aleška Simkić, and the Head of the H2-diplo office, Manuel Andresh.  The opening event offered the opportunity to exchange within three panel discussions on a variety of topics of the energy transition with stakeholders from politics, science and the economy:   · Green Hydrogen in Kazakhstan: Progress and Plans (Importance for Decarbonization) · Development of Renewable Energy in Central Asia · Improving Energy Efficiency in Buildings   While Talgat Karashev from the Ministry of Energy highlighted Kazakhstan’s ambitions for a green transition on a political level and the importance of international cooperation, the panel also discussed potential challenges in decarbonization efforts with green hydrogen. Manuel Andresh, from H2-diplo gave examples of potential risks and how to overcome them for a successful transition. Peline Atamer from OECD enriched the discussion on risks with important de-risking strategies and policies to mitigate and address risks like uncertain marked demand. To set the scene on further discussions, Mr. Nurym Noyanbayev, from Energo University, gave an overview on different H2 production and application options and Sapar Bektassov from TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) presented potential hydrogen transportation routes that are essential part of a successful hydrogen ramp-up. To further discuss perspectives of the private sector, Green spark, a Kazakh company of the power sector, presented first examples on their approach towards a “green economy” and presented first pilot projects to decarbonize the oil and gas business.   The second panel on renewable energy – a prerequisite of green hydrogen - focused on discussing the political and economical necessities for removing barriers to renewable energy integration in Central Asia, encouraging regional collaboration, and identifying practical pathways to create sustainable, resilient, and low-carbon energy systems in the region. Our last panel focused on energy efficiency in buildings in Kazakhstan, addressing the latest strategies, technologies, and policies aimed at improving energy performance in the construction and renovation of buildings – still a field of action offering a lot of potential for emission reductions in Kazakhstan.   We are looking forward to more fruitful discussions with visitors of the exhibition during its visit in Astana. #h2diplo #GreenHydrogen #EnergyTransition #diplomergy

🌍💡 Reminder: Join us on Wednesday at the European Hydrogen Week for a Side-Event on Ukraine’s hydrogen future!   🇺🇦🇩🇪 H2-diplo - Decarbonization Diplomacy and the International Power-to-X Hub invite you to an engaging panel discussion on financing and #derisking Ukraine's hydrogen economy - a critical step toward advancing its energy transition and future hydrogen plans. With the official kickoff of a #PPP between #GIZ and #N1Capital, initiated by #BMWK, the event will also show that there are already concrete steps to drive forward investments in hydrogen projects in #Ukraine!   🗓 When? November 20th, 2024, 11:30 AM – 01:00 PM CET 📍Where? European Hydrogen Week, Brussels Expo, Room 1121 (Hall 11 – 2nd Floor)    Speakers include: - Mykola Kolisnyk, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Energy of Ukraine - Julia Kahrl, Deputy Head of Division of Energy Foreign Policy, Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office) Germany - Dr. Valentyn Gvozdiy, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Ukrhydroenergo - Torsten Merkel, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, N1 Capital - Dr. Mykola Iakovenko, Senior Policy-Officer, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin - Dr. Christian Storost, Head of Division Hydrogen Ramp-Up, Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz - Frank Mischler, Director, International Power-to-X Hub 🌟 Can't join us in person? No worries! A livestream link will be provided upon registration.  👉 Register now under: https://lnkd.in/dac_gcWs   #HydrogenFuture #EnergyTransition #SustainableInvestments #EUH2Week2024 #Ukraine #InternationalPtXHub #H2Uppp