H2!Raum Receives Second Funding Period

Fraunhofer IEG and the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences have received a commitment from the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) for a second funding period for the transfer initiative "H2!Raum – Mittelstand Ruhr 2030". The Bochum-based project, which has been running since 2023, will thus receive a total of approximately two million euros. The project aims to accelerate the exchange between hydrogen research and application and to promote innovation in this field.

Green hydrogen will play a crucial role in the decarbonization of industry. As a renewable energy carrier, it can be used wherever direct electrification is not possible. Furthermore, the renewable gas can serve as an energy storage medium and is expected to mitigate future periods of low wind and solar power generation. The H2!Raum transfer initiative aims to strengthen the network of hydrogen stakeholders in the Ruhr region in order to accelerate the hydrogen rollout.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas J. Naber, project spokesperson from the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences, emphasized the importance of connecting the regional economy with the innovation potential of research. In addition to spaces for exchange, this often requires new approaches with experimental ideas and methods, Naber explained. "That's why we want to break new ground with our transfer formats and follow the trend towards playful, collaborative approaches. This could be a hydrogen quiz or networking through business poker," Naber continued.