Successfully implementing the energy transition in the metropolitan area of Hamburg – the Renewable Energy Hamburg Cluster Agency celebrates its 10-year anniversary

The Renewable Energy Hamburg Cluster Agency, the industries network for Northern Germany, will celebrate 10 years of working on the energy transition this autumn. After starting with 57 founding members, it now has more than 180 and can look back on numerous milestones in the achievement of the energy transition.

Dr Peter Tschentscher, the First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg:

“Renewable energy can be deployed efficiently and on a large scale with new power-to-x technologies, modern storage systems and digital innovations. Such energy systems of the future are being developed in the metropolitan area of Hamburg, with close collaboration between the business and scientific community. The Renewable Energy Hamburg Cluster Agency makes an important contribution to the energy transition and climate protection in Germany. I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart on the 10-year anniversary!”

Industries network for future types of energy

Founded in 2010, the Renewable Energy Hamburg Cluster Agency (EEHH) in the metropolitan area of Hamburg has developed into the leading network of industries for future types of energy. Thematically, it focuses on digitisation, offshore wind energy, sector coupling, solar energy and renewable heat supply. Over the last ten years, the EEHH Cluster Agency has distinguished itself in publications such as “Flexible industry – the potential of industry in Northern Germany as a contributor to the energy transition” or “Offshore wind energy from a legal perspective”, and in acclaimed collaborative projects such as the EU-Interreg project “Northern Connections” or “Northern German Energy Transition 4.0 – NEW4.0”, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

Michael Westhagemann, Senator for Economics and Innovation in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg:

“I hope that the EEHH Cluster Agency will continue to work just as effectively and that it will participate in the new strategic field of 'green hydrogen'. To develop a European hydrogen economy, it would be helpful if the Cluster Agency were to play a major role here.”

The EEHH Cluster Agency, together with its members, organises outstanding events in person and (increasingly since this year) digitally on key energy transition topics. With annual events such as the German Renewables Award, the Cluster Agency has established itself as a major player in the energy economy. It has provided substantial support for the organisation of the international WindEnergy Hamburg trade fair since 2012. To promote international exchange, the industries network has hosted more than 200 delegations to date and regularly participates in delegation trips abroad, to Japan or South Korea, for example. In the context of the ongoing corona crisis, the Cluster Agency has proven to be a flexible network and has successfully shifted many of its offerings online. Interested viewers can attend web seminars on topics such as the new solar obligation in Hamburg, digitisation in the offshore wind industry or crisis communication during the corona pandemic.

EEHH Managing Director Jan Rispens: “Over the last ten years, we have made a lot of progress and entered into valuable partnerships with stakeholders in industries. Tripling our total members is proof alone of the confidence industries have in us and the effectiveness of our work. I would like to thank all of you who have accompanied us down this path and helped to make the EEHH Cluster Agency a valued contact partner for major and urgent issues related to the energy transition. We look forward to continuing along this path and using our work to contribute to making the metropolitan area of Hamburg and Northern Germany cleaner and more sustainable, viable and export-oriented.”

Diverse use of renewable energies in Hamburg

Since the very beginning, the Cluster Agency’s tasks have included the networking of stakeholders in industries with each other as well as informing and supporting its members. The thematic focal points are set by the forums Heat, Financing & Law as well as the brand-new forum Solar (since October 2020) in which member companies address industry-specific regulatory and technical aspects. Using channels such its website, blog and social media, the EEHH Cluster Agency offers the latest information on its own projects and developments in the renewable energy sector both nationally and internationally, so renewable energy stakeholders can network and stay up to date.

Further greetings from companions

Dr Simone Peter, President of Bundesverband Erneuerbare Energie e.V.:

“The Bundesverband Erneuerbare Energie e.V. (BEE) is pleased to have enjoyed ten years of working with a strong partner for the energy transition in the north and warmly congratulates the Renewable Energy Hamburg Cluster Agency on its one-decade anniversary. Through the extensive networking of strong stakeholders in the sector and the energy transition practice lived out locally, it makes an important contribution to the region of Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein as well as the entire north, which plays a central role in the energy transition. I wish the EEHH Cluster Agency all the best for the future and look forward to an ongoing productive partnership”.

Dr Axel Röpke, Regional Chair Hamburg of Bundesverband WindEnergie e.V.

“On behalf of Bundesverband Windenergie e.V., BWE Landesverband Hamburg, we would like to convey our heartfelt congratulations to the EEHH Cluster Agency on its anniversary. It is not easy to support a cross-sector energy transition in a metropolitan area, which is why we are very pleased to have, in the Cluster Agency, a strong voice on our side for renewable energy. With a clear focus on the energy transition, Hamburg has become not only the wind capital, but also a prominent authority in the world of renewable energy thanks to the EEHH Cluster Agency. Even more than looking back on past, successful years, however, we look forward to further good collaboration so that we can collectively make progress on the energy transition in Hamburg and its metropolitan area”.

Enjoy the anniversary film and other greetings from friends and supporters of the Cluster Agency in the video series: 10 years of the EEHH Cluster Agency – Members tell their stories in the mediathek.

https://www.erneuerbare-energien-hamburg.de/de/service/video-datenbank.html