Innovation

Hamburg und Schleswig-Holstein forge closer co-operation

15 October 2021
Keener focus on energy transition, transport and digitalisation

The state governments of Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein have agreed to forge closer co-operation in terms of the energy transition, mobility and digitalisation after a joint annual cabinet meeting in September. Their joint efforts will focus on hydrogen production and usage, expanding local and long-distance public transport, digital administration services and environmental protection solutions.

Focus on hydrogen

Both states aim to continue and intensify their use of hydrogen. Hamburg, as Germany's largest industrial location, and Schleswig-Holstein, as a major producer of wind energy, offer ideal conditions for promoting this "key technology for the energy transition and climate protection". The aim is to build up high-performance supply networks for electricity from renewable energies and to boost both hydrogen production and the energy transition in northern Germany. Both states came out in favour of hydrogen-friendly reforms on federal level and closer ties in hydrogen research. Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein have already developed joint hydrogen solutions as part of the Norddeutsches Reallabor and Norddeutsche Energiewende 4.0 projects. 

Transport and digitalisation projects

Greater co-operation will be forged in mobility, digitalisation and climate protection. Several joint initiatives are planned to expand local and long-distance public transport including the construction of Hamburg's S-Bahn lines 4 and 32, a larger cycle path network and a possible reactivation of the Bergedorf-Geesthacht and Uetersen-Tornesch railway lines. Both states will step up joint efforts in the area of digital administrative services using artificial intelligence. Possible solutions for sediment transport in the course of deepening the Elbe River and co-operation in spatial planning, environmental protection and housing construction were also discussed during the cabinet meeting in Hamburg.

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Tackling forward-looking issues together

Peter Tschentscher, Mayor of Hamburg and Daniel Günther, Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, said talks during the joint annual cabinet meeting have been fruitful. Tschentscher remarked: "The north German states are tackling the issues of the future together. The North German Reallabor, the joint hydrogen strategy and transport projects, such as expanding suburban railway lines in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region illustrate the good cooperation in the north." Günther added: "For more than 30 years, co-operation between Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg has been part of everyday life in many political and administrative spheres. Our goal is to represent the common interests externally as well, especially vis-à-vis the federal government and the EU."

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Peter Tschentscher (l.) und Daniel Günther (r.)

Sources and further information

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