BHC participation to the Belgian-Dutch Climate Technology Forum

On Wednesday 21st June 2023, the Belgian Hydrogen Council had the pleasure to participate to the first Belgian-Dutch Climate Technology Forum organized by the Dutch Embassy in Belgium and the Dutch Consulate General in Antwerp. This forum was a success and has gathered more than 400 people with approximately half Dutch and half Belgian.

For the BHC it was a great opportunity to present the Narrative on hydrogen in Belgium highlighting the Cooperation, Perspectives and Opportunities on hydrogen between Belgium and the Netherlands.

In more general terms it was an ideal opportunity for companies, centres of expertise and public sector representatives to exchange knowledge and gain new insights into green hydrogen, climate-neutral construction, forward-looking agriculture and smart, sustainable mobility.

In more general terms it was an ideal opportunity for companies, centres of expertise and public sector representatives to exchange knowledge and gain new insights into green hydrogen, climate-neutral construction, forward-looking agriculture and smart, sustainable mobility.

Following the official opening, hosted by Liesje Schreinemacher, the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, a varied programme was offering interesting discussion workshops for each sector focusing on different areas, one-to-one matchmaking interviews with Dutch players, and networking meetings between professionals from the ecosystem.

Indeed, several projects with strong Belgian-Dutch cooperation were presented to the Dutch royal couple. For example, VDL and Colruyt explained there the H2Haul project in which VDL produces hydrogen trucks for Colruyt.

During the first break-out session ‘Powering the future with green hydrogen’, Liesje Schreinemacher, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation and the Federal Cabinet for Energy (An Stroobandt) explained Dutch and Belgian hydrogen policy.

Then Cedric Brüll and Adwin Martens explained how Belgian Hydrogen Council are helping to implement the federal and regional hydrogen strategy. They also gave insights into the expected global market and in which technology areas they see opportunities for cooperation.

Two more break-out sessions took place in the afternoon where Belgian Hydrogen Players were given a forum to showcase their technology and expertise :

• Manufacturing Industry for Hydrogen Production’, in which Bosal, Agfa, TNO and John Cockerill set out their plans and where the opportunities lie for Belgian and Dutch industry.
• Manufacturing Industry for Applications of Hydrogen’, in which VDL, Nedstack, ABC and Callens informed participants about their ambitions and promising technologies in hydrogen.