Future Made in Gelsenkirchen: TECH.LAND Visits Klimahafen

A day full of innovation, collaboration, and energy transformation – on the invitation of Lars Baumgürtel, CEO & President of IHK Nord Westfalen, TECH.LAND visited Klimahafen Gelsenkirchen to continue the dialogue on regional hydrogen development and to celebrate a milestone in the Ruhr region’s green transition.

A Milestone: The New Green Hydrogen Plant by VoltH2

In a symbolic handover, Mayor Karin Welge officially transferred the new VoltH2 hydrogen plant to Arno Luisman, CEO of VoltH2 — marking the company’s first project in Germany.

With a capacity of 20 MW, the plant will produce around 1,800 tons of green hydrogen per year, supplying industrial users and mobility projects alike. This innovation is set to reduce approximately 23,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually – a tangible step toward a sustainable industrial future.

As VoltH2 aptly stated:

“It takes an extended team to build a hydrogen plant.”

And that spirit of collaboration perfectly reflects the driving force behind this groundbreaking regional project.

Regional Cooperation: Workshop at WiN Emscher-Lippe

Following the site visit, partners gathered at WiN Emscher-Lippe Gesellschaft zur Strukturverbesserung mbH for a collaborative workshop focused on defining the next steps in regional hydrogen development.

Discussions highlighted the crucial role of bottom-up regional initiatives in accelerating hydrogen adoption — especially for energy-intensive industries such as ZINQ. By working together at the regional level, the hydrogen economy can scale faster, smarter, and more sustainably.

Driving Cross-Border Energy Transition

The day at Klimahafen Gelsenkirchen clearly demonstrated the power of cross-border collaboration. Partners from Germany, the Netherlands, and Morocco are joining forces to make the energy transition tangible — from innovation to real-world implementation.