Hydrogen Revolution Conference Set to Unite Industry Leaders in Budapest

Organized by Green Brother, a member of the EIT Urban Mobility RIS HUB network, and co-organized by the Hungarian Hydrogen Association, the annual conference attracted industry representatives, SMEs, university academics, researchers, and innovators, as well as the Ministry of Energy of Hungary. The event served as a platform for discussing the latest developments in the hydrogen sector.   

During the opening speech, Ákos Dervalics, CEO of Green Brother, focused on the vital importance of green hydrogen. He outlined compelling reasons why investing effort and resources into green hydrogen is essential for advancing sustainable energy solutions.

Throughout the event, various experts echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the crucial role of innovation in driving the hydrogen industry forward. A significant point of discussion was Hungary's hydrogen strategy, adopted in 2021. The Ministry of Energy of Hungary is actively working on the implementation of this strategy, emphasizing the development of a robust domestic hydrogen ecosystem. The government plans to stimulate the development of the domestic hydrogen ecosystem through a number of instruments. The legislative framework is being reformed to remove barriers to the development of a hydrogen market and to facilitate the development of an efficient hydrogen market. In addition, emphasis is being placed on securing funding. KEHOP could allocate an extra 90 billion for hydrogen investments. In the REPowerEU chapter of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, several investments are relevant for the emerging hydrogen economy.

“We plan to allocate HUF 70 billion for hydrogen investments. The aim is to support green hydrogen production and its use for mobility purposes (buses, freight vehicles). In addition, the introduction of green hydrogen will also be possible under the "Green Technologies" investment” highlighted Csiki Anita dr., State Secretariat for Energy and Climate  Policy,  Ministry of Energy in Hungary.  She mentioned, Ministry of Energy is interested in exploiting related industrial development opportunities, including the development of manufacturing capacities and the provision of related services.

A standout presentation at the conference was delivered by Marian Nic, Partner Development officer at EIT Urban Mobility. The speaker highlighted the crucial role of hydrogen in fostering a more sustainable future and detailed how EIT Urban Mobility supports hydrogen initiatives through targeted project programs. Marian Nic also introduced the audience to "H2GO," a project focusing on Hydrogen as a safe and reliable energy range extender for electric duty vehicles. This project exemplifies the innovative approaches being developed to integrate hydrogen technology in practical applications.

Dr. Can Sındıraç, Senior Lead R&D Engineer at ASPILSAN Energy and a Technical Committee Member of EUROGIA, provided a comprehensive overview of Turkey's Hydrogen Projects, focusing on the 4D HYDROGEN project. This initiative is a cornerstone of Turkey's Hydrogen Technologies Policies, aimed at encouraging the widespread use of green hydrogen across various sectors, particularly those where carbon emission reduction is challenging, such as chemistry, iron-steel, transportation, glass, and ceramics. Dr. Sındıraç also shared his perspective on international collaboration, noting, “Hungary has very great potential and acts like a bridge between Europe and the Middle East, forming a foundation for good partnership.” This statement underscores the strategic significance of Hungary in the hydrogen energy landscape and the potential for cross-regional collaborations. 

One of the event's highlights was the presentation by Dr. András Tompos, Head of the Renewable Energy Research Group at HUN-REN – Hungarian Research Network. Dr. Tompos engaged the audience with an in-depth discussion on Hydrogen and Green hydrogen-based E-fuels (E-methane, E-methanol, E-ammonia), exploring whether they are competing or complementing energy sources. His comprehensive presentation covered various aspects including indirect and direct electrochemical methods, policies, regulations, and barriers within the field. Reflecting on the conference's impact, Dr. Tompos shared his optimistic view: “This event can bring together different parties interested in innovation. During the matchmaking session, I hope that a new consortium can be formed.” His feedback underscores the conference's role as a matchmaking platform for collaboration and advancement in the hydrogen sector.

Blanka de Ingunza, Marketing coordinator at Blue World Technologies, introduced the audience to the innovative world of Blue World Technologies. As a developer and manufacturer of methanol fuel cell components and systems, the presentation will delve into the organization's HT PEM technology and its multifaceted applications across diverse industries. Blanka also illuminated the role played by Blue World Technologies in the decarbonization of the maritime industry, charting a strategic 'Pathway to Net-Zero Shipping.'

A key feature of the conference was the panel discussion titled “Navigating the Future with Green Hydrogen" moderated by Ákos Dervalics. The panelists included Szedlmajer László from BKV, Róbert Csapó from ALTEO, and Dr. Antal Bódi from KTI. The discussion centered around the current state and future prospects of hydrogen technologies globally. The panelists devoted their expertise to exploring various critical aspects, such as: what factors will contribute most to the importance of green hydrogen in future applications, cost of hydrogen, source of green power and how hydrogen can be used for balancing green generation. This insightful panel discussion emphasized the multi-dimensional aspects of hydrogen energy, from technological innovation to economic and environmental considerations. It brought to light that cooperation between governments and industries is essential, focus on those industries where either a specific country have competences and green hydrogen technologies can add extra value accepted by customers. Launching pilot projects in such selected area is essential as well as collecting and analyzing data, learning and identifying best practices that can be deployed in other geographical areas.

This conference delved into crucial topics such as green hydrogen development, hydrogen's potential in transportation, and the challenges and risks associated with hydrogen technology. It also explored the importance of hydrogen technologies in achieving zero-emission goals, opportunities within EIT Urban Mobility, and access to European financing resources.

As the final event of the conference, the participants could take part in matchmaking session, where  more then 30 companies had the opportunity to meet in person with companies, cities, universities and research institutes to discuss future cooperation. As the final event of the conference, the matchmaking session provided a unique opportunity for more than 30 stakeholders to engage in face-to-face interactions. This session allowed companies, city representatives, universities, and research institutes to meet and discuss potential future collaborations. The matchmaking session, as well as the conference as a whole, highlighted the growing interest and investment in hydrogen technologies.

For more information, please contact marketing@greenbrother.hu

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Green Brother is an influential member of the EIT Urban Mobility RIS HUB and EIT InnoEnergy network, dedicated to driving innovation and sustainability in urban mobility across Europe.

Hungarian Hydrogen Association is at the forefront of promoting hydrogen technology and its integration into Hungary's energy landscape