Decarbonizing the SME Sector with Hydrogen: Mission (Im)possible?

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Recording of Thursday, May 08, 2025 | The smarter E Europe Exhibition Program 2025 | Exhibition Program | Language: English | Duration: 16:09 .

Philipp Kampmann Discusses Decarbonizing SMEs with Hydrogen at Thüga AG's Energy Transition Initiative in Germany.

Philipp Kampmann from Thüga AG, a significant group of municipal energy and water suppliers in Germany, discusses the decarbonization challenges for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with hydrogen. With over 27,000 employees managing extensive electricity and gas networks across Germany, Thüga focuses on sustainable energy distribution beyond industrial centers. Hydrogen plays a pivotal role due to its versatility: it can store renewable electricity during surplus periods or be used directly for heat production in various applications like process heating or mobility sectors where electric vehicles are less viable. Despite SMEs being crucial—accounting for over half of employment—they often adopt a cautious approach towards energy transition due to competitive pressures and policies favoring larger companies. The new government aims to reduce regulatory barriers while promoting local production independence alongside imports' cost benefits. Challenges include ensuring demand aligns with supply capabilities through strategic projects like Rhine-Main Connect that build regional hydrogen infrastructure despite funding complexities at European levels impacting smaller firms more acutely than large ones.

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Philipp Kampmann
Manager H2-Ecosystems
Thüga AG
Germany

Bringing a hydrogen project from concept to reality involves navigating complex hurdles—from securing initial investment and ensuring regulatory compliance to meeting strict safety and environmental standards. This session dives into the practical steps needed to initiate, plan, and execute hydrogen ventures. Experts will explore key topics, including project economics (CAPEX/OPEX), viable business models, certification schemes, and the latest permitting frameworks.

Further Talks of this session:

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Dr. Julia Wulf
Lawyer
Taylor Wessing Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mbB
Germany

To Talk

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