Looking back at the
World Hydrogen Week 2024
Bella Center, Copenhagen
Shaping Hydrogen's Future
The World Hydrogen Congress (WHC) 2024 in Copenhagen emphasized the crucial role hydrogen will play in the global energy transition. DEKRA CEO Stan Zurkiewicz, Policy Officer Elija Leib and Christoph Flink, Vice President Hydrogen Program Management, participated in panel discussions and presentations. Their contributions around WHC made clear: while the potential of hydrogen is immense, its full realization depends on effective risk management, international cooperation, and streamlined regulatory frameworks to create a safe, reliable, and scalable hydrogen ecosystem.
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DEKRA Speakers & Panelists
Stan Zurkiewicz
CEO
Dr. Christoph Flink
Vice President
Hydrogen-Economy Program
Hydrogen-Economy Program
Elija Leib
Senior Policy Manager
European Sustainability Policy
European Sustainability Policy
October 1st
12:00 – 12:40 PM
Key-Note Plenary Panel
Global Approaches to Green Hydrogen
This discussion explored global strategies for developing scalable and cost-efficient green hydrogen projects. It addressed key issues such as cost reduction, risk management, water security, and the challenges of technology and project bankability. The session also considered the influence of more affordable Chinese electrolyzers and highlighted the role of international collaboration in advancing large-scale hydrogen production and distribution.
Stan Zurkiewicz
Boosting Confidence Through Risk Management
DEKRA’s CEO Stan Zurkiewicz stated, that, as the leading Testing, Inspection, and Certification company dealing with safety, security and sustainability of people, products, assets, processes and systems, DEKRA stands at the core of the energy transition. In a panel discussion during WHC, he underscored hydrogen’s position as the cornerstone of this transformation.
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Securing Safe and Scalable Hydrogen Infrastructure
“We specialize in end-to-end risk management, covering the entire lifecycle of hydrogen, ensuring the infrastructure and supply chains are fit for scaling hydrogen safely and sustainably.” With hydrogen moving out of well-controlled industrial environments and with many new players are entering the ecosystem, “we need to translate existing knowledge and standards to new applications”, said Zurkiewicz. As a key player in the hydrogen sector, DEKRA is actively involved in RCS (Regulations, Codes and Standards) Gap Analysis activities, contributing to the Norming Roadmap in Germany and the ECH2A (European Clean Hydrogen Alliance) RCS Workgroup in Europe.
“Together, we must ensure that both the physical and digital infrastructure of hydrogen projects are optimized for safety and scalability.”
Stan Zurkiewicz, CEO DEKRA
October 2nd
14:30 – 14:50 PM
Stream C
Examination of Regulatory Challenges
This presentation compared regulatory approaches governing testing, inspections, and certifications for a safe, secure, and sustainable hydrogen economy. It outlined what’s next in regional regulations and their interoperability, from additionality and time matching to resolving legal discrepancies across jurisdictions. The session explored how current regulations are shaping the future of green energy—and what is needed to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral economy.
Elija Leib
Trust and Simplicity as the Key
To establish a safe and sustainable hydrogen economy, a simple and harmonized regulatory framework is the key to success: Elija Leib, DEKRA Senior Policy Officer, pointed this out in his presentation on October 2, 2024, during the WHC 2024. The expert sees trust in safety, security and sustainability as a basic requirement. His thesis is that this must not be hindered by overly complex regulation.
Insights Into the Regulatory Landscape
This presentation by DEKRA expert Elija Leib provided a comparative analysis of the regulatory approaches to testing, inspection, and certification, which are essential to a safe and sustainable hydrogen economy.
Tests
Solar panels, batteries, electrolyzers, HRS
Inspections
Energy production, hydrogen production, pipelines
Certifications
RFNBO, LCF, derivatives
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Excessive Complexity Due to National, EU and US Regulations
The current high complexity of the regulatory landscape must not be allowed to stand in the way: there are currently national regulatory frameworks for hydrogen production, hydrogen certification, pipeline retrofitting, storage and hydrogen refueling stations (HRS) and industrial applications. Between the EU and US regulations alone, there are fundamentally different incentive systems for investment and for pricing green hydrogen.
October 3rd
14:00 – 14:40 PM
Stream B
Pathway to the Hydrogen Economy
This discussion explored the feasibility of a direct transition to green hydrogen from a fossil fuel-dependent system. It addressed key challenges such as high production costs and inadequate infrastructure. Additionally, the session considered the role of low-carbon hydrogen options, like nuclear and natural gas with CCS, and whether integrating blue hydrogen alongside green alternatives can facilitate a smoother, scalable transition to green hydrogen from renewable sources.
Dr. Christoph Flink
Direct Transition Towards a Green Hydrogen Economy Is Moving Too Slow
Dr. Christoph Flink, responsible for the strategy and implementation of DEKRA’s services along the supply chain for hydrogen, and the panel provided a reality check on the current status of the hydrogen economy, emphasizing that the transition towards a green hydrogen economy is progressing too slowly. He pointed out that policies are not advancing quickly enough to create reliable conditions for green hydrogen offtake commitments, which are essential for unlocking necessary investments.
Two conflicting policy philosophies were identified:
Market-Driven Approach
This approach suggests that government policies should only define economic boundaries, allowing the industry and markets to determine the technologies needed to achieve a Net Zero economy.
Government-Led Approach
This approach argues that political decisions should guide technology choices and support the installation of necessary infrastructure, as markets require direction to move forward efficiently.
Designing a Realistic Pathway to Hydrogen Economy in 2050: Key Conclusions
1
Cost Reduction Pathway Needed:
Green hydrogen remains too expensive, and a clear policy pathway is needed to reduce costs while climbing down the learning curve.
2
Slow Policy Delays Bankable Projects:
Slow policy development is hindering the creation of reliable conditions for bankable projects.
3
Investor Confidence Requires Clarity:
Investors need clear and reliable conditions to build trust in the markets. Simply setting targets without detailed plans is insufficient.
4
Blue Hydrogen – Bridge to Green Transition:
Blue hydrogen is proposed as a potential bridge, with claims of mature and cost-effective technologies. However, it should accelerate the development of a green hydrogen economy rather than hinder it.
“I strongly advocate for a global forum on hydrogen safety and risk management, where certification bodies like DEKRA can lead the way. Let’s continue to push for robust protocols to make the hydrogen industry scalable, sustainable, and safe.”
Stan Zurkiewicz, CEO DEKRA