Berlin, May 5 (ZXS) -- From gray to green, how does Essen seek the road of energy transition?
China News Agency reporter Ma Xiuxiu
"What is the reason for Essen's transformation?" With this problem in mind, a reporter from the China News Agency recently visited the German city of Essen, known as the "green capital of Europe".
Located in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Essen has a total population of more than 59,<> and is the central city of the Ruhr industrial region. It is Mengxia, the grass and trees are blooming, and the city is full of greenery and pleasant and fresh air along the way. Who would have thought that this was once a coal city shrouded in "gray"?
Infographic: Aerial view of Essen. Photo courtesy of EWG
Historically, Essen has the world's largest and most modern coal mining industrial area, which was once an important support for Germany's economic prosperity. In the second half of the 20th century, as coal's advantages as an industrial energy source gradually lost and the environmental pollution caused by mining and other problems, coal mining areas declined, and Essen also began to seek the road of energy transition.
The World Heritage Site "Customs Union Coal Mining Industrial Zone in Essen" is a symbol of Essen's transformation. With the closure of the coal mine in 1986 and the coking plant in 1993, the buildings in the industrial park were successively converted for new use; Under the work of the Customs Union Foundation, the building and coal mine infrastructure in the industrial zone were maintained. The reporter saw that museums, theatrical performance venues, leisure parks, etc. were scattered in the industrial zone. In the sun, the dark brown buildings echo the yellow rape flowers, and visitors can stroll or take a break under the trees.
The photo shows the Essen Customs Union coal mining industrial zone taken on May 5. Photo by China News Agency reporter Ma Xiuxiu
Erich Bauch, an energy expert at the Essen Economic Promotion Agency (EWG), told China News Agency that since the 20s of the 80th century, Essen has begun to explore energy transition, and the government and enterprises have worked together to try to lead structural transformation on the right path.
Essen is a city where energy companies are concentrated. According to reports, Essen currently has 250 companies and institutions in the energy sector, and two of the four largest energy providers in Germany are located in Essen. Almost all major hydrogen projects in Europe involve at least one Essen company. The reporter found that under the background of the current European energy crisis and Germany's vigorous promotion of energy transformation, Essen companies are seeking innovation and change, and strive to seize opportunities and expand new opportunities in the hydrogen energy track as an important representative of renewable energy.
H2UB is Europe's first platform to connect hydrogen startups, connecting entrepreneurs with businesses, investors and research institutions to help develop and market innovative hydrogen energy concepts. Since its inception in 2021, the platform ecosystem has brought together 65 startups.
As one of Europe's largest operators of energy networks and energy infrastructure, E.ON Group has been involved in hydrogen projects for many years, which has been accelerated by the Ukraine crisis. At present, the group is implementing about 50 hydrogen energy projects in different stages.
Open Grid Europe is Germany's largest gas pipeline operator, with two-thirds of the gas used in Germany flowing through the company's pipeline network. To support Germany's energy transition, the company is planning the first batch of pipeline modifications this year, hoping to provide hydrogen transportation services in the long term.
The vision of the energy transition is good, but it also faces problems and challenges. The above company leaders all said that the development of hydrogen energy needs to solve problems such as high costs and technological breakthroughs. In this context, brainstorming and learning from each other may become one of the solution paths.
Thanks to a large number of international trade fairs, conferences, etc., Essen is the "meeting" of the European energy industry. Every year, industry professionals from all over the world use the corresponding platforms to seek cooperation opportunities, collide with ideas, and constantly inject new impetus into the energy transition.
The picture shows the scene of the 5 New Energy and Water Treatment Exhibition held in Essen on May 24. Photo by China News Agency reporter Ma Xiuxiu
During the reporter's visit to Essen, it coincided with the 2023 New Energy and Water Treatment Exhibition. The exhibition hall was bustling with large energy companies including Uniper, RWE, E.ON, etc. Hydrogen energy is one of the hot topics of this exhibition. The specially set up "Hydrogen Solutions" exhibition area provides a platform for open discussion and exchange among exhibitors.
In an interview with reporters, Carsten Borchers, vice president of global hydrogen energy projects of E.ON Group, also expressed the importance of global exchanges and cooperation. Taking China as an example, he believes that China and Germany face similar challenges in the field of energy transition, and the two countries can learn from each other in terms of technology and other aspects to jointly develop production at the global level.
Recall the question at the beginning, and the reporter found several key words in the media material as the answer: smart mind, good planning, political will, execution, and the mindset of not seeing transformation as a risk. Coupled with an open and collaborative mind, I wonder if the Essen experience can provide some inspiration for cities seeking an energy transition? (End)