Delegation from the North Westphalia Chamber of Industry and Commerce travels to Norway
Hydrogen is one of the core clusters of TECH.LAND. That made the recent delegation trip from the Münsterland / Emscher-Lippe region to Oslo – with a focus on hydrogen – especially relevant.
“Hydrogen from Norway could help keep electricity prices in Germany stable,” said Lars Baumgürtel, President of the North Westphalia Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Nord Westfalen), a funding partner of TECH.LAND, following the delegation's visit to the Scandinavian country. However, even in Norway, the initial euphoria surrounding the hydrogen ramp-up has given way to a “phase of realism,” noted Baumgürtel, who is also Managing Director of the ZINQ Group in Gelsenkirchen. “German-Norwegian hydrogen projects are only viable if supported by professional and competitive business models. Supply and demand must be clearly defined.”
From theory to practice
The time for concepts is over – now it’s about implementation. The aim of the delegation trip was to deepen the bilateral energy partnership and provide new impetus for industrial transformation in North Westphalia. Representatives from the region met with leading Norwegian energy companies, including Equinor, Yara and Aker Solutions.
The programme also included in-depth discussions with the German Embassy in Oslo and the German-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce (AHK Norway).
“Norway presents itself as a highly developed partner – strategically focused, technologically strong, and politically determined,” Baumgürtel summed up. Norwegian energy policy is marked by pragmatism, innovation, and a deep understanding of the need for cross-sectoral solutions. This mindset is also reflected in the private sector, where companies like Equinor and Gen2Energy are investing in hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) – always with the dual goal of serving international markets while decarbonising their own industry.
“Norway is a role model in many areas – especially in the energy sector,” said Ron Keßeler, Managing Director of EMERGY in Velen. “Germany, by comparison, must act more decisively.”
TECH.LAND as a key region in the energy transition
North Westphalia positioned itself in Oslo as a core region in the European energy transition – and as a central player within TECH.LAND. “Energy-intensive SMEs in particular must be better integrated into the German-Norwegian energy partnership,” said Baumgürtel. Cooperation with the Netherlands – one of North Westphalia’s key partners – will also be crucial, as the corridors from Norway via the Netherlands to Germany provide ideal routes for future energy flows.
From the delegation’s perspective, the region has a clear mandate: to actively help shape the energy transition – not just as a consumer, but as a co-creator. Sector coupling, integrated energy solutions, and coordinated cluster strategies that bring together demand and infrastructure are key to success.
At the same time, political support is essential to remove regulatory barriers and ensure investment security. “Norway has extended a hand. Now it’s Germany’s turn to take the next steps,” said Michael Kern, Managing Director of AHK Norway. “North Westphalia can – and will – play a central role in this partnership. Further meetings have already been scheduled.”
During the visit, Baumgürtel also highlighted the importance of international cooperation with the Netherlands, emphasising the strategic potential of trilateral collaboration within the TECH.LAND framework.