European Hydrogen Summit – Hydrogène sans Frontières

Symposium / September 23, 2025

For the future-oriented use of geological resources

With its geological hydrogen resources, the French region of Grand Est is becoming a strategic player in the energy transition. Its focus on white hydrogen contributes to decarbonization, making the region an essential part of the future European "hydrogen backbone."

Grand Est aims to integrate its hydrogen strategy into strong, cross-border partnerships.

The hydrogen industry supports the transition to a climate-neutral society.

The H₂Strasbourg association is the organizer of the European Hydrogen Summit "Hydrogène sans Frontières." It brings together public and private stakeholders as well as universities, and supports clean energy projects with the aim of firmly establishing white hydrogen in the Grand Est region. Fraunhofer ICT and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) are scientific partners of H₂Strasbourg.

Event details

Program

Provisional schedule for September 23, 2025

9.30	Welcome	Prof. Dr. Karsten Pinkwart Fraunhofer ICT
9.40	National Strategy for France	Patrik Hetzel Member of the French National Assembly and former Minister for Research and Higher Education
9.50	Regional Strategy for Grand Est	Vincent Thiebaut Member of the French National Assembly
10.00	Regional Strategy for Baden-Württemberg	Dominik Bernauer Head of the Energy Sector Department at the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy Sector of Baden-Württemberg
10.10	Regional Strategy for Bavaria	Tobias Gotthardt State Secretary at the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs
10.20	National Strategy for Germany	Dr. Axel Bree Deputy Director-General – Subdivision IIB: Hydrogen Ramp-up and Energy Research – at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
10.30	Color classification of hydrogen: Overview of production methods, technical feasibility, and cost potential	Ellen Österlein, M. Sc. Fraunhofer ISI	Details of the presention
10.50	Native Hydrogen from the Lorraine Coal Basin	Dr. Jacques Pironon Emeritus Research Director at CNRS (France) Dr. Philippe de Donato Research Director at CNRS (France)	Details of the presentation
11.30	Coffee break
12.00	Legal framework – mining law	N. N., CNRS
12.20	Hydrogen pipelines – cross-border infrastructure projects connect production and sales	Dipl.-Phys. Nico Raß Head of Hydrogen Development International at Open Grid Europe	Details of the presentation
12.40	Legal framework for cross-border hydrogen transport pipelines between Germany and France	Prof. Dr. Michael Frey und Rahel Alia Müller, B. A. Director of the Kehl Institute of Applied Sciences (KIAF), University of Public Administration, Kehl	Details of the presentation
13.10	Hydrogen within the European energy system: developments, scenarios, and perspectives	Dr. Viktor Müller Fraunhofer ISI	Details of the presentation
13.30	Lunch break
15.00	Molecular hydrogen in the geological subsurface	Dr. Dieter Franke Head of Department B.13 – Geology of Energy Resources, Polar Geology at the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources	Details of the presentation
15.20	Field report from Mali	N. N. (Mali)
15.40	Panel discussion with German and French representatives	Dr. Axel Bree, Deputy Director-General – Subdivision IIB: Hydrogen Ramp-up and Energy Research – at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy Bernd Reuter, Head of the Hydrogen Division at the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy of Baden-Württemberg Patrice Harster, Vice President of CESER Grand Est, responsible for cross-border cooperation, Europe, interregional and international relations Patrick Weiten, President of the Moselle region (TBC) ... tba ...
16.15	Ende of event

Costs

375 €

Location

Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology
Joseph-von-Fraunhofer Straße 7, 76327 Pfinztal

Date

September 23, 2025

Language

German, French, English (with simultaneous translation)