Review: Located in the middle of the Rhine-Alps corridor, the trinational region of Basel is ideally suited as a hub for importing, storing, and distributing green hydrogen. By 2050, the European Hydrogen Backbone pipeline system will also run across Europe. To ensure we don’t miss the boat, we are joining forces with the transnational “3H2” initiative to establish a hydrogen ecosystem in the tri-border region. The opportunities offered by green hydrogen were discussed on April 25, 2023, at the Trinational Hydrogen Forum in Basel, which attracted around 400 interested parties. The event was organized by the Handelskammer beider Basel, the Klimaplattform der Wirtschaft | Region Basel, and Industrielle Werke Basel IWB.
In her welcoming speech, Chamber of Commerce President Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter emphasized that green hydrogen has great potential to make a decisive contribution to the decarbonization of our region and our country. However, as an internationally oriented economy, Switzerland must move toward a sustainable energy future together with its European allies. Claus Schmidt, CEO of IWB, agreed. Co-organizer Jürgen Schulz from the Climate Platform for Business called for action, but also for patience. This is because new infrastructure is needed to produce large quantities of green electricity, which is the basis for affordable green hydrogen. Planning and construction of this infrastructure takes a long time – a veritable stress test for investors – without which nothing would happen.

Pierre-Alain Graf, CEO of the GETEC Group, then provided information on global developments in H2 and its relevance for the economy, while Jean-Marc Thévenaz, CEO of easyJet Switzerland, reported on the test phase of a hydrogen propulsion system for aircraft. In a discussion with the energy companies badenova from Germany, GRTgaz from France, and IWB from Switzerland, it became clear that they believe in green hydrogen as a sustainable energy source and are investing in pilot projects as well as larger plants. Various projects in the tri-border region also show what is already underway: the agglomeration communities in the Mulhouse area are focusing on hydrogen in public transport and logistics with the Hyperium project. Gas network operator R-GDS in Strasbourg is opening hydrogen filling stations this year, and Haffner Energy wants to use biomass for hydrogen production. In Whylen on the Upper Rhine in Germany, Endress+Hauser uses a power-to-gas plant to convert surplus electricity from hydropower into H2. Construction machinery manufacturer Liebherr has developed a robust hydrogen engine for heavy construction vehicles such as bulldozers, crane trucks, and excavators. H2 replaces the diesel fuel that has been commonly used up to now. The prototypes have already been used in test vehicles and have proven themselves well so far. EDF, in turn, is supporting several H2 projects in our trinational region with its expertise. These include CO2-reduced fertilizer production in Ottmarsheim, France, with the help of H2.

In the subsequent panel discussion, Chamber of Commerce Director Martin Dätwyler, Jacques Haenn, Regional Delegate for Grand Est at France Hydrogène, Andre Olveira-Lenz, Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Southern Upper Rhine, and Markus Bareit, Swiss Federal Office of Energy, discussed the framework conditions for promoting H2 as a key energy source. Everyone agreed: if we want to promote the import, production, storage, transport, and use of hydrogen in the tri-border region, we must network and take a coordinated approach. Connection to the European Hydrogen Backbone is also crucial in this regard. Together, we can pave the way for green hydrogen in our region.