ENERTRAG opens office in Hamburg: New momentum for green hydrogen economy
ENERTRAG opens office in Hamburg: New momentum for green hydrogen economy
Hamburg, 24 September 2024 – ENERTRAG, a leading developer and producer of renewable energy, celebrated the opening of its new office in the historic Laeiszhof in Hamburg on 23 September 2024. With the new office, ENERTRAG is strengthening its role in the global hydrogen economy and sending a clear signal for the decarbonisation of the logistics and shipping industry.
The office opening took place on the eve of the Hamburg WindEnergy trade fair and brought together high-ranking political representatives, partners from the renewable energy industry, future customers for green hydrogen derivatives and members of the press. At the reception, which was attended by over 80 guests, there were speeches by Dr Gunar Hering, CEO of ENERTRAG, and Nikolaus Schües, CEO of the F. Laeisz Group, as well as a welcome address by Dr Andreas Dressel, Senator for Finance of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
Strategic importance of the location
The Laeiszhof offers ENERTRAG a strategically important location near the Port of Hamburg, one of the central hubs for the development of hydrogen logistics in Europe. In close cooperation with the F. Laeisz Group and other partners based at Laeiszhof, including H2Global, ENERTRAG will advance the infrastructure for the trading and use of green hydrogen.
'Hamburg is the centre of wind energy in Germany and a key location for the hydrogen economy. With our new office in the Laeiszhof, we are committed to the long-term development of this location and want to make a decisive contribution to the energy transition,’ explains Dr Gunar Hering, CEO of ENERTRAG.
Cooperation for a climate-neutral future
The close cooperation with the F. Laeisz shipping company, a leading player in ammonia logistics, is a central component of ENERTRAG's strategic orientation in Hamburg. Both companies are promoting the use of green ammonia and methanol in shipping to reduce CO₂ emissions.
Ammonia and methanol, derived from green hydrogen, are ideal low-emission energy carriers. Laeisz plans to convert parts of its fleet to these, while ENERTRAG is working on the necessary production and availability of the hydrogen derivatives to effectively support the decarbonisation of shipping.
Nikolaus Schües, CEO of the F. Laeisz Group, emphasises the role of maritime logistics in the energy transition: ‘The development of a sustainable, competitive energy supply can only succeed through cross-sector collaboration. Shipping is an important link in this, not only as a carrier but also as a user of hydrogen-based energy sources’.
Focus on ramping up the hydrogen economy and infrastructure
The opening of the new site in Hamburg is a contribution to the general ramp-up of the hydrogen economy in Germany and Europe. In addition to the conversion of maritime logistics, the development of an extensive infrastructure for the production, storage and transport of green hydrogen plays a central role in ENERTRAG's strategy.
‘We want to supply not only shipping but also numerous other industries with green hydrogen in order to make the energy supply climate-neutral in the long term,’ emphasises Dr Gunar Hering. He adds that the Port of Hamburg offers the ideal conditions for serving as a hub for the import and export of hydrogen and its derivatives.
The combination of domestic production in Germany and imports from coastal regions around the world with abundant wind and sunshine should ensure a secure supply. In cooperation with partners, ENERTRAG will work to further expand the value chain of green hydrogen and develop Hamburg into a leading centre for the global hydrogen economy.
"We are delighted that ENERTRAG, another important player in the renewable energy and hydrogen sectors, is coming to Hamburg. Our city offers good conditions and investment opportunities, especially in the area of large-scale hydrogen projects. In this respect, it is only logical and a win for us that ENERTRAG, as a major player in the market, is opening an office here and thus helping to further advance the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy in Hamburg and Germany,’ says Dr Andreas Dressel, Finance Senator of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
ENERTRAG: a pioneer in hydrogen production
With over 30 years of experience in developing renewable energy projects and as the operator of the integrated power plant in the Uckermark region of Germany, ENERTRAG brings extensive expertise to the production and distribution of green hydrogen. By cooperating with logistics companies and supporting the H2Global mechanism, ENERTRAG aims to make Hamburg a leading centre of the hydrogen economy.