(Brussels Belgium) - The regional Belgian organizations “WaterstofNet” and “Cluster Tweed” have founded a national hydrogen lobby called the “Belgian Hydrogen Council” (BHC). The board, elected for a two-year term, is made up of managing directors from eight companies across the entire value chain: Engie (production), John Cockerill (technology), Fluxys (infrastructure), Port of Antwerp-Bruges (ports and import), ArcelorMittal (industry), Ineos (industry ), Virya Energy (mobility) and Sirris (research).
Logo of the newly founded Belgian Hydrogen Council. © Port of Antwerp-Bruges
WaterstofNet and Tweed have been coordinating regional clusters in Flanders and Wallonia for several years and now together form the “Program Office” with the secretariat, organization and coordination of the Council. The 150 Belgian members of the Waterstof Industrie cluster, coordinated by WaterstofNet since 2015, and the 70 members of H2Hub Wallonia, coordinated by the Tweed cluster since 2020, are automatically members. The council is bringing together the existing industrial hydrogen ecosystems in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels, according to the organizers.
Support from ministries
The Belgian hydrogen industry has long been calling for the creation of a national forum in which companies have the say and tangible results are the main goal. Belgium is now following the example of other countries such as Germany and France.
The four ministers dealing with the issue also expressed their support for this new initiative, namely Tinne Van der Straeten, Federal Minister of Energy, Philippe Henry, Walloon Minister for Climate, Energy, Mobility and Infrastructure, Jo Brouns, Flemish Minister for Labor, Economy and Innovation, and Alain Maron, Brussels Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Energy.
Division of work into five working groups
Five working groups (“task”) will be set up for the specific work. Task 1 will focus on advising the various Belgian authorities on important hydrogen issues and developing proposals on topics such as hydrogen certification. Group 2 deals with the development of hydrogen infrastructure in Belgium. Task 3 (promotion) and task 4 (internationalization) are intended to sharpen the profile of companies at home and abroad. The fifth working group focuses on training and education in the area of hydrogen. Additional working groups were formed as needed.
The 150 members of the Waterstof Industrie cluster and the 70 members of H2Hub Wallonia are automatically members of the Belgian Hydrogen Council. © Port of Antwerp-Bruges
The first aim is to facilitate the rapid introduction of hydrogen in Belgium by removing regulatory, technical and economic barriers in order to strengthen the country's position "in Europe and on the world stage as a pioneer and center of excellence for clean hydrogen," it said Notice.
The second objective is “to develop a strong hydrogen representation to make Belgium a major hydrogen import center and promote national hydrogen technology.” In order to achieve these goals, political decision-makers will be “advised on the implementation of their regional and federal hydrogen strategies”.
Photos
The eight CEOs of the Board of Directors and the Council's Program Office met for the first meeting in Brussels: Cedric Osterrieth (Engie), Raphaël Tilot (John Cockerill), Raphaël De Winter (Fluxys), Tom Hautekiet (Port of Antwerp-Bruges), Philippe Alboort (ArcelorMittal Belgium), Wouter Bleukx (Ineos), Stephanwickels (Virya Energy), Pieter Jan Jordaens (Sirris), Adwin Martens, Isabel François, Stefan Van Laer (WaterstofNet), Cédric Brüll and Valère Counet (Cluster Tweed). © Port of Antwerp-Bruges
