Hydrogen: Thuringia transfers the chairmanship of the East German Hydrogen Initiative to Berlin
Created by the Thuringian Ministry for Environment, Energy, Nature Conservation and Forestry
A year ago the six East German states founded the IWO with the goal of closely linking politics, business and science in the region to harness the potential of climate-neutral hydrogen, particularly for eastern Germany. In 2025 the focus was on establishing the Berlin office and identifying strategic topics to be implemented from the following year. These include, for example, a hydrogen distribution network study, an event in Brussels, a skilled labor study, and an East German Hydrogen Congress.
Energy Minister Tilo Kummer explains: “We still have a lot of potential in Thuringia in this field and important players involved in building electrolyzers and hydrogen refueling stations. However, we need appropriate political framework conditions to make progress here. We must simplify grid connections for electrolyzers and end existing disadvantages. If we create planning and investment certainty for companies, Thuringia can benefit from the hydrogen economy.”
With regard to EU rules, the energy minister adds: “As the IWO, we are contributing at the European level because regulations—such as those classifying climate-neutral hydrogen or governing hydrogen networks—directly affect investment certainty and thus the development of locations in eastern Germany. We will also address this at the upcoming Energy Ministers’ Conference in early December 2025 in Stralsund.”
Launch of distribution network and skilled labor study
To establish a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure, the hydrogen core network, as the basis for cross-regional hydrogen transport, was approved by the Federal Network Agency in October 2024 and is to be built and commissioned in stages by 2032. The next step is to develop a hydrogen distribution network that enables access to hydrogen for municipalities, industry and businesses. A hydrogen distribution network study—being prepared for the entire eastern Germany for the first time—will also take production potential into account.
This Monday (December 1) Thuringia hands over the chairmanship of the „Initiative für Wasserstoff in Ostdeutschland e.V.“ (IWO) to Berlin.
The IWO will also address the issue of skilled workers for the hydrogen economy and commission a study on the topic, since having enough qualified personnel is crucial for successfully building the hydrogen sector. It is already apparent that many areas along the entire hydrogen value chain will experience significant demand.
East German Hydrogen Congress and Hydrogen Event in Brussels
Eastern Germany has a wide range of expertise in hydrogen technology and intends to continue tapping its potential to build a hydrogen economy. To showcase these strengths and better connect stakeholders across regions, a new congress series on hydrogen will be launched—focused on Eastern Germany with an international orientation. The office, together with partners, has developed an event concept for this. The first congress will take place in Leipzig in 2026.
To make East German hydrogen interests visible in the European context and to specifically address the IWO’s calls for adjustments to the regulatory framework, the IWO is planning an event with subsequent bilateral talks in Brussels in the first quarter of 2026.
