Leine-Weser Region Secures Funding for Its Hydrogen Network

The Leine-Weser Hydrogen Network has officially announced funding of approximately €279,900 in early December. The funding, provided under the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety's "Municipal Directive for Climate Protection Projects in the Municipal Environment," will be used for professional network management, events, and networking activities.

The network comprises the districts of Diepholz, Hameln-Pyrmont, Hildesheim, Holzminden, Nienburg/Weser, Schaumburg, and the Hanover Region. Its goal is to identify and implement sustainable hydrogen technology projects through regional collaboration. The Hannover Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Hannover) and the Regional State Development Office Leine-Weser are key supporting partners.

A few weeks prior to the announcement, the district administrators Dirk Adomat (Hameln-Pyrmont), Bernd Lynack (Hildesheim), Michael Schünemann (Holzminden), Detlev Kohlmeier (Nienburg/Weser), Jörg Farr (Schaumburg), and Hanover Region President Steffen Krach signed a joint declaration to finalize the approval of the funding.

"We have already demonstrated the potential of such a network through excellent collaboration with IHK Hannover and the districts over the past two years in various events. The Interreg project 'EHRIN' on hydrogen, involving partners from Sweden, the Netherlands, and Scotland, also built on the strong exchange in Leine-Weser. I am delighted that this funding will allow us to unlock even more potential from this alliance and position ourselves for the future," said Frauke Patzke, Regional Representative for State Development Leine-Weser.

Nienburg District Administrator Detlev Kohlmeier emphasized: "Hydrogen can play a central role in the energy transition, replacing fossil fuels in many areas while also serving as a long-term storage solution for surplus renewable energy. This holds tremendous potential, especially for rural areas."

"Niedersachsen has significant opportunities to take the lead in the hydrogen economy. The Leine-Weser region has the potential to contribute key components to this effort. Now we must act—launch concrete projects and provide stronger momentum for an attractive future business model for companies in our region," said IHK Hannover's Chief Executive, Maike Bielfeldt.

More than two years ago, the municipal partners decided to co-finance the project “KSI: Cooperation – Climate Protection Initiative Hydrogen Network Leine-Weser – Network Phase.” The total project volume amounts to approximately €465,000. The Nienburg/Weser district filed the funding application on behalf of the group, underscoring the importance of collaborative engagement.

The application was accompanied by 54 letters of support from businesses and municipalities in the region, as well as endorsements from the Lower Saxony Ministry of Environment, Energy, Building, and Climate Protection and the Lower Saxony Ministry of Federal and European Affairs and Regional Development.

The Nienburg/Weser district will now assign the task of professional network management on behalf of the municipal partners, with work expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025. The new phase will build on the results and insights gained from previous collaborations. The hydrogen network will continue to rely on the support of IHK Hannover and the Regional State Development Office Leine-Weser.