Energy Workforce President Tim Tarpley participated in the Transatlantic Hydrogen Roundtable discussion with a delegation from Essen, Germany, to explore the leading role of energy technology companies in the hydrogen sector. Hosted by the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern U.S., the roundtable discussion centered on current trends and challenges for hydrogen in both Germany and the U.S., aiming to identify commonalities and facilitate problem-solving.
In addition to the Essen delegation, roundtable participants included representatives from the Center for Houston’s Future, Uniper North America, and Energy Capital of the Future, among others. The discussion commenced with participant introductions and a high-level overview of each organization’s involvement in the hydrogen value chain. The moderated discussion then delved into the specific policies of Germany and the U.S., exploring how different carrot and stick approaches influenced their respective hydrogen markets.
Tarpley underscored the imperative for both the United States and European countries, including Germany, to accelerate the permitting process:
“We believe that to successfully achieve the scale required for widespread hydrogen adoption, policymakers in the U.S. and abroad must adopt a comprehensive approach to the entire value chain. In the United States, there needs to be a focus on the urgency of permitting reform.”
The energy services and technology sector actively participates in the hydrogen business, concentrating on developing efficient and carbon net-zero processes for hydrogen fuel generation. Leveraging its experience in scaling projects and energy infrastructure, the sector is positioned to drive innovation in hydrogen. However, despite government incentive policies such as 45V in the Inflation Reduction Act, permitting remains a significant obstacle across the U.S., hindering the establishment of markets and hubs.
For those interested in further engagement on how the sector is leading in hydrogen, please contact Maria Suarez-Simmons for additional information on the Energy Workforce Energy Technology Committee.
Maria Suarez-Simmons, Senior Director Energy Policy, writes about industry-specific policies for the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
