Net Zero Valley Lausitz: Eastern Germany accelerates the transition to green industry

Net Zero Valleys — demonstrating that German regions are already proving the industrial transformation is more than just a vision.

This was particularly evident at the side event hosted by the federal economic development agency Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) and the German-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce during European Hydrogen Week in Brussels: on the panel, Birgit Urban, Representative of the State of Brandenburg to the European Union; Dr. Christian Ehler, Member of the European Parliament; Thomas Kralinski, State Secretary and Head of Office at the Saxon State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labour, Energy and Climate Protection; and Matthias Ecke, Member of the European Parliament, presented the Net Zero Valley Lausitz.

The Lausitz is set to become a hotspot for industrial renewal. A Net Zero Valley is emerging from the former lignite mining region, taking on a pioneering role as a model region. In the coming years it will build production capacities for future technologies in hydrogen and Clean-Tech. The region benefits from strong cooperation among municipalities, industry, academia and social partners.

The Lausitz is an excellent example of cross-state cooperation between Saxony and Brandenburg to jointly advance the hydrogen economy.

This is precisely where IWO comes in. As a central platform for hydrogen in eastern Germany, the initiative connects political, business, scientific and administrative stakeholders from Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. Dominik Härle, Managing Director of IWO, was also on site in Brussels and presented IWO at the accompanying trade exhibition. After all, the transition can only succeed with strong partners and clear, shared goals.