It already started on Sunday. During the opening ceremony for Hannover Messe, every speaker, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, uttered the word “Wasserstoff” (hydrogen). Therefore, a sure sign – from politics as well as industry – that at this time there is no getting around the topic. Predictably, federal economic minister Robert Habeck visited the stand of GP Joule, of his old friends from Schleswig-Holstein, for a long while.
Impressive to see was how large the area inside hall 13 was, which had been laid with an orange carpet – a signature of Hydrogen + Fuel Cells Europe. This H2 and FC fair within Hannover Messe was, with a gross area of 10,000 m2 (108,000 ft2), nearly twice as large as before the pandemic, when it had usually stretched 5,000 to 6,000 m2 (54,000 ft2). Accordingly good was the mood there – both of the exhibiting businesses and of the guests. The fact that only eleven halls were occupied on the exhibition grounds this year, and that not all of them were really full, took a back seat. For the operators of Hannover Messe, that is Deutsche Messe AG, however, the question arises of how to proceed next year.
“Nothing’s going on this time. This used to be a really big industrial fair.”
Parking attendant at Hannover Fairgrounds
Tobias Renz, who, like before, had professionally prepared the hydrogen fair with his small but efficient team, seemed accordingly satisfied. He had attracted 220 exhibitors to the fairgrounds of Hannover Messe, who all exhibited enthusiasm.
Author: Sven Geitmann
