An independent think tank at the Riigikogu Foresight Centre organised a hydrogen conference “Is Estonia About to Miss the Hydrogen Train?”
The Foresight Centre and the Riigikogu organised a hydrogen conference “Is Estonia About to Miss the Hydrogen Train?” in Tallinn Creative Hub to look into options for replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen-based solutions in Estonia.
“Climate change is increasingly forcing the world and Estonia to face the question of satisfying the energy needs of the human race while keeping the environmental impact to a minimum,” said the Head of the Foresight Centre Tea Danilov. “Many countries around the world see the broader use of hydrogen as a serious contender. In order not to miss the hydrogen train, Estonia must take a closer look at hydrogen as a possible energy carrier in the near future.”
The hydrogen conference looked at the possible roles of hydrogen in future energy systems and mapped the current situation in using hydrogen technologies. The European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson presented the EU Hydrogen Strategy, speakers from the Netherlands talked about their ambitious hydrogen projects, policy-makers spoke about the plans for introducing hydrogen, and researchers gave an overview of hydrogen technologies and their economic efficiency. Several large Estonian infrastructure and energy companies also presented their plans regarding hydrogen.
Annely Akkermann (member of the Riigikogu, Chairman of the Hydrogen Technology Support Group), Kadri Simson (Commissioner for Energy of the European Commission), Daniël Koelikamp (leader of the Smart & Green Mobility and Public Transport project in Groningen Province, the Netherlands), Patrick Cnubben (New Energy Coalition hydrogen coordinator, the Netherlands), Gert Villard (Adviser to the Minister of the Environment), Timo Tatar (Deputy Secretary General for Energy of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications), Enn Lust (professor of the University of Tartu), Ivo Palu (professor of the Tallinn University of Technology), Taavi Veskimägi (Chairman of the Management Board at Elering), Raul Toomsalu (Chairman of the Management Board at Operail), Aavo Kärmas (Chairman of the Management Board at Enefit Green), Jaak Kaabel (former Chairman of the Management Board at OÜ TS Laevad), Merike Saks (Chairman of the Board at Elron), Aivo Adamson (Chief Executive Officer at AS Alexela), Rene Tammist (Development Manager at Utilitas), and Kalev Kallemets (Member of the Board at Fermi Energia) shared their views on the topic. The conference was moderated by the research fellow of the University of Tartu Ove Oll, and the Head of the Foresight Centre Tea Danilov.
The presentation of Patrick Cnubben on the hydrogen train project in the Netherlands can be viewed on the link below.
The Foresight Centre is a think tank at the Chancellery of the Riigikogu that analyses long-term developments in the society and economy. The Centre conducts research projects to analyse the long-term developments in the Estonian society and to discover new trends and development directions.
The areas of research and the completed studies of the Foresight Centre are accessible here.
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