2nd Saarland Hydrogen Congress 2026
Model Region Stress Test: Between Vision, Steelworks, and the Global Market
Datum
28. – 29.04.2026
Location
The ballroom of the VHS at Saarbrücken Castle
The 2nd Saarland Hydrogen Congress is the place where we don’t just ask these questions, but answer them. It is a reality check driven by the will to shape the future.
Two days, five perspectives:
Regional
National
Security-related
European
Global
The questions are demanding. But the Saarland has the courage and the competence to provide the answers. We are not waiting—we are taking action.
Speaker
Andreas Rimkus
Chief Hydrogen Ambassador
Anke Rehlinger
Ministerpräsidentin des Saarlandes
Prof. Dr. Andrea Wechsler
Mitglied des Europäischen Parlaments für die CDU
Elena Yorgova-Ramanauskas
Staatssekretärin für Wirtschaft, Innovation, Digitales und Energie Saarland
Jens Apelt
CEO Encevo Deutschland
Jonathan Weber
CFO & Chief Transformation Officer Stahl-Holding-Saar
Jorgo Chatzimarkakis
CEO Hydrogen Europe
Jürgen Barke
Minister für Wirtschaft, Innovation, Digitales und Energie Saarland
Kirsten Westphal
STLV. Geschäftsführerin BDEW
Shena Britzen
Head of H2, Rheinmetall AG
Stefan Kaufmann
Ehm. H2-Beauftragter, Consultant & Ex-BMBF
Timo Bollerhey
CEO & CO-Gründer, H2Global
Prof. Dr. Veronika Grimm
Wirtschaftsweise & Beraterin des BMWE
Tom Hautekiet
Chief Business dev. & Transition Officer am Port of Antwerp-Bruges
Dr. Stefan Hamelmann
Power Solutions, Senior Vice President, Technical Plant Manager Bosch
Arthur Auxenfants
Head of Midscales H2 Verso Energy
Henrich von Kopp-Colomb
Head of Customer Solutions Open Grid Europe GmbH
Prof. Dr. Michael Sterner
Prof. for storage H2 PtX energy systems OTH Regensburg
From Vision to Practice:
Saarland Delivers
With 64,000 jobs in the steel and automotive industries and a strong industrial base, the Saarland is at the center of the European transformation.
The task is gargantuan, but the goal is clear: we are securing our competitiveness through the green transformation. In this context, hydrogen is not just an option—it is the decisive lever for the future of our industrial location.
4.6 billion euro investment: A clear commitment to the future. With Power4Steel, the Saarland is realizing one of Europe’s largest decarbonization projects.
Target: CO₂ savings of 55 percent by 2033.
Investments of this magnitude are a tour de force that shows: Industry believes in this location. We are creating facts: The supply contract with Verso Energy secures the first import volumes starting in 2029, Saarbahn is bringing hydrogen to the streets, and companies like Bosch are already manufacturing the technology for the global market today. The hydrogen core network has been approved—the goal is connection by 2032.
Our partners
Our sponsors
What you can expect
You will receive a clear overview,
How the mix of regional electrolysis and imports is intended to work in practice, and where the bottlenecks lie today, so that supply, projects, and schedules ultimately align.
You will learn,
how infrastructure can actually be built faster, including permits, milestones such as mosaHYc by 2029 and the core network by 2032, and what is necessary for the expansion to keep pace with industrial demand.
You will see,
how the industrial ramp-up of usage is to be implemented, with a focus on anchor customers like Power4Steel, the connection of power plants and SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), and the question of whether volumes will suffice for competitive production.
You will benefit,
through direct exchange with the key players shaping the ramp-up. The congress connects you with CEOs, ministers, and scientists. This is not just about making contacts, but about forming concrete project partnerships.
You will be provided with the decisive levers,
regarding supply chains and framework conditions—namely, scaling against international competition, local acceptance, cross-border cooperation, rapid transfer from research, and whether regulation is fast enough to keep pace.
The ballroom of the VHS at Saarbrücken Castle
The center at Saarbrücken Castle provides the spatial setting for professional exchange. Located at the political heart of the state, the venue offers modern conference infrastructure and short distances to key decision-makers.
For the grand finale, the congress moves to the Luminanz. With its unique atmosphere, this modern industrial loft provides the perfect backdrop for high-quality networking and personal exchange in the evening.
