The ‘EMR H2 Booster’ consortium is calling on small and medium-sized enterprises in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine (EMR) to join the transition towards hydrogen (H2).
To give this development a boost, the Interreg EMR H2 Booster project was recently kicked off in the Government in Maastricht. Nine different partners from Wallonia, Flanders, the Aachen region and Limburg have joined forces in the consortium, with the aim of giving an impetus to SME companies taking steps towards the use of hydrogen.
Hydrogen as a clean source of energy
In addition to electricity, sustainably produced hydrogen will also be an important source of energy in the future. In order to give the transition from fossil fuel to hydrogen a boost, the EMR H2 Booster consortium is offering companies knowledge, experience and the opportunity to find partner companies (across the border) over the next 18 months and to set up pilot projects that will make a start on a larger scale transition to a hydrogen-driven economy in Limburg and the adjoining regions.
European support for Limburg and border regions
The ‘EMR H2 Booster’ consortium consists of regional development organizations, organizations in the hydrogen cluster and a knowledge institute. The body thus combines extensive experience in the hydrogen sector on the one hand with knowledge of local small and medium-sized enterprises on the other.
The program is being financially supported by European Interreg funds and co-financing from a number of partners. In the coming months, the resources will be used to map out the available knowledge, experience and plans. Companies that are interested can register digitally on the website (refers to another website) (opens external website) of the consortium.
Roadmap in 4 parts
Based on the knowledge gained in the first phase of the project, in the second phase companies from the three countries will be linked together and pilot projects will be drawn up that can be realized with the help of the consortium. In the third phase an event will be organized in each region where knowledge and experience about the projects from the second phase will be shared. Finally, in the last phase, a vision and roadmap will be developed for the long term, so that the ‘EMR H2 Booster’ and the ecosystem of hydrogen-driven SME’s can develop further after the end of this project.
International partners for Limburg
In addition to European funding from the Interreg program, the project is also receiving cross-border co-financing from the provinces of Limburg and North Brabant, the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate Change, the Walloon government and the government of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
In addition, a range of diverse partners are linked to the consortium, including Stadt Aachen, the Limburg development company LIOF, the Flemish development company POM Limburg, the Walloon innovation & sustainability cluster TWEED, the industry & trade chamber IHK Aachen, the University of Hasselt, SPI and the Hydrogen Coalition Limburg. The Parkstad region has also expressed its support. WaterstofNet will manage the project coming.
