Andalucía Trade organizes a “trade mission” to the ‘European Hydrogen Week’ in Belgium with six Andalusian companies
The Business Agency for Economic Transformation and Development, Andalucía Trade, has organised the presence of six Andalusian companies from the green hydrogen sector at the ‘European Hydrogen Week 2024’, which was held from 18 to 21 November in Brussels.
As detailed by the Agency in a note, at this event the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines, together with the Andalusian Energy Agency, have led the presence of Andalusia at the European Hydrogen Week with an exhibitor and active participation in the B2B conferences organized by the Commission and in the High-Level Political Conference.
This trade mission also coincided on 20 November with a visit by the Deputy Minister of Industry, Energy and Mines, Ana María Vielba, to the Andalusian Energy Agency’s exhibition space at the show, where she had the opportunity to interact with participating companies from Huelva and Seville.
Within the framework of this action, the six Andalusian firms have had the opportunity to “explore reference clusters and projects” in Belgium and the Netherlands, with notable visits to the Port of Antwerp and companies such as the Belgian Fluxys Hydrogen, “thus strengthening strategic connections for the development of this key area for renewable energies.”
The main objective of this action has thus been to “boost the internationalisation of Andalusian green hydrogen”. In addition, it has sought to “strengthen strategic alliances in a key sector for the energy transition, helping to consolidate Andalusia as a leader in sustainable solutions”.
The trade mission’s agenda began on November 19 with a visit to the Centre on Regulation in Europe (Cerre), a Brussels-based think tank specialising in “the regulation of key sectors of the European economy, such as energy, telecommunications, transport and the digital economy.”
The Andalusian delegation then met with the Dutch hydrogen cluster (NL Hydrogen) at the event, which included the presence of Dutch firms HyGear, Nedstack, SoluForce, Hydrogen Valley Noord-Holland; as well as knowledge institutions such as TNO and New Energy Coalition; and representatives of the port of Rotterdam (Haven Rotterdam). Representatives of Provincie Zuid-Holland also participated, an entity that “promotes strategic projects for the production and use of green hydrogen in industry and sustainable mobility in the southern region of the Netherlands.”
The delegation also held meetings with Groen Vermogen NL, a Dutch initiative focused on “boosting green hydrogen projects to support the energy transition”; Stirling Cryogenics, a company specialising in “cryogenic technologies based on Stirling engines”; and Air Products, “a global company of US origin, leader in industrial gases and hydrogen technologies”. During the afternoon, networking activities took place at the exhibitors’ stands.
On November 20, the trade mission also visited Fluxys Hydrogen, a Belgian firm specializing in natural gas and hydrogen infrastructure that will operate the country’s hydrogen network. This independent operator estimates that the first hydrogen networks could be operational in the country by mid-2026.
They also held a meeting with Hydrogen Europe, the main European association representing the hydrogen industry, including companies, research organizations and other key players. This meeting was coordinated by the Andalusian Energy Agency, which is a member of the aforementioned association.
Likewise, this Thursday the Andalusian delegation closed the mission with a visit to the main green hydrogen projects in the Port of Antwerp, highlighting the upcoming installation of “one of the largest electrolysers manufactured by AEM Electrolyser.” In addition, the strategic agreement with the Port of Namibia was explored, which will allow “storing green hydrogen produced in this country, consolidating Antwerp as a key node in the sustainable energy transition.”
In this context, the six Andalusian companies participating in this mission organized by Andalucía Trade come from Huelva (Gabitel Soluciones Técnicas and Realza Ingenieros) and Seville (Clan Tecnológica, The Lean Hydrogen Company, H2B2 Electrolysis Technologies and Ghenova). This action organized by the Agency may be co-financed with funds from the European Union, charged to the Andalusian ERDF Operational Program 2021-2027, with a community contribution of 85%, or any other European Program likely to co-finance this action.
According to data from Andalucía Trade, EU Hydrogen Week brings together industry leaders, policy makers, researchers and end users interested in the role of hydrogen in the energy transition in Brussels.
READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central
Andalucía Trade organizes a “trade mission” to the ‘European Hydrogen Week’ in Belgium with six Andalusian companies, source
