The second installment of the Berlin Energy Forum was a resounding success, bringing together key industry leaders and experts to discuss Germany’s pursuit of green hydrogen. The session, expertly moderated by Ben Aris and led by Tom O'Donnell, provided insightful analysis on the comparative advantages and challenges of hydrogen as a sustainable energy solution. With a packed house of attendees, the event facilitated meaningful discussions and networking, offering participants a valuable platform to contribute to the future of green hydrogen. The engaging dialogue and diverse perspectives ensured this was a memorable and impactful gathering.
SPEAKERS
ABOUT THE FORUM
The Berlin Energy Forum will be the leading forum for discussion and analysis of the global energy market from leading industry experts, with particular emphasis on how developments affect Europe .
The principles, Ben Aris, the publisher of IntelliNews and Newsbase, and Dr Tom O’Donnell, a nuclear scientist and top analyst, have spent their entire careers studying, analysing and reporting on the evolution of the global energy market and will leverage their extensive network of contacts in the business from around the world to bring top level experts to discuss the latest developments.
Meetings will be held on a monthly basis for members of the Berlin Energy Forum to discuss and analyse the latest developments in the sector, bringing in expert analysts, industry leaders, politicians and other key players who bring an exclusive insight to the energy business.
Schedule and Event Details
Germany’s Quest for Green Hydrogen: from Ukraine to Mauritania & back
German federal policy embraces “green hydrogen” (GrH2) production and imports as key to fully decarbonizing and de-nuclearizing the country. The GrH2 quest was began under Chancellor Merkel’s last energy minister, Peter Altmaier (CDU), and has been fully adopted under Chancellor Scholz’ energy and economy minister, Robert Habeck (Greens).
Federal policy speaks of GrH2 as necessary for “hard to decarbonize” industries (e.g., steel, chemicals), for grid-scale storage to backup variable wind and solar, to replace continued coal and natural gas baseload power, and for various transport applications.
The rise of GrH2 policy followed the findings of the 8th Independent Monitors of the Energiewende Group’s finding that it will not be possible to produce sufficient renewable energy on German territory to power the country. Accordingly, the Monitors advocated importing renewable energy as both electricity from neighboring countries, and green hydrogen from more distant countries where wind and sunshine are optimal.
The State and energy firms are now supporting development of GrH2 production in N. Africa, the Gulf, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Eastern Central Europe and, most especially, in Ukraine for export to Germany.
This GreenH2 policy is controversial across the EU and overseas. Our expert panel will debate:
· Is GrH2 production and transport technically-scientifically feasible?
· What new infrastructure is required?
· How expensive would it be?
· How soon could it replace German coal and presently expanding natural-gas generation?
· What are its greenhouse characteristics?
· Will Eastern Europe, Gulf and African projects become “white elephants” once subsidies end?
· Shouldn’t renewable generation optimally first decarbonize countries where it is produced?
· What are competing solutions for the weather-induced limitations of renewable-based generation?
Event Schedule
Date: 02/09/2024
Venue: Capital Club
Start Time: 4:00 PM
4:00 PM - 4:15 PM: Welcome & Introduction Speaker: Tom O'Donnell
4:15 PM - 5:30 PM: Panel Discussion - Dawud Ansari and Olena Pavlenko
5.30 PM - 6.00PM: Q & A
6:00 PM - onward:
Informal Drinks & One-on-One with Speakers
Times are estimates and are subject to change