H2BA Collaboration Labs
The Green Hydrogen Business Alliance is committed to improving the framework conditions for a sustainable hydrogen and PtX market in partner countries. Therefore, it launched the Collaboration Labs (CoLab), a solution finding process that tackles specific market obstacles with solutions that benefit the private sector and the local population simultaneously.
The CoLab Format
The H2-CoLabs approach involves a series of workshops with a carefully selected group of participating companies and further relevant stakeholders. The aim is to work on a specific problem and formulate tangible, viable cooperation solutions that benefit the local development and the private sector.
This holistic approach guarantees the involvement of all relevant stakeholders contributing to the identified solution. This includes stakeholders from the private and the public sector as well as the EU and partner countries.
CoLab: PtX-Demand Mechanisms
Since October 2024, H2BA has been examining the issue of insufficient incentives on the demand side, which further hampers market growth. While current efforts predominantly focus on production support, the absence of demand-side incentives limits the adoption of green hydrogen by consumers and businesses. Offtakers require security and incentives to switch to green hydrogen and its derivatives, necessitating comprehensive and balanced policy interventions that address both supply and demand.
The aim of this CoLab on Green Hydrogen and PtX Demand Support Mechanisms is to first present existing and upcoming demand support mechanisms in Europe and globally. In the second step, new support mechanism ideas will be presented and discussed in-depth to identify current hurdles and ultimately design appropriate tools to accelerate the ramp-up of a carbon-free hydrogen market.
Are you interested in contributing? Contact us via h2-business-alliance@giz.de.
CoLab: Green Hydrogen Skills
The availability of skilled workers at each stage of the green hydrogen value chain is a crucial factor for investment decisions and, thus critical for the growth of green hydrogen industries in developing and emerging countries. However, ensuring that the required workforce will be available at the right place and time remains a significant challenge.
Between July 2024 and March 2025, the Green Hydrogen Business Alliance therefore invited key stakeholders from the private and public sectors to jointly explore the existing skills needs and design a solution that will benefit the green hydrogen sector and the partner countries simultaneously.
In three workshops and numerous bilateral meetings, it became evident that, firstly, while the shortage of skilled workers will play a crucial role in the mid-term, the timing of scaled training for skilled workers is essential to ensure their integration into the job market. Secondly, the value of existing publicly funded PtX pilot plants as training hubs for companies could bear a vast potential and needs to be further explored.
The findings from the CoLab were handed over to the BMZ and are being considered in the design of upcoming projects and policies.