EU allocates €9.7 million to Oberhausen for investment
In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the state government is actively supporting Oberhausen's transition to a low-carbon economy, particularly through backing large-scale hydrogen projects. A key example is Air Liquide's "Trailblazer" electrolyzer in Oberhausen, which produces renewable, certified hydrogen for transport and industry [1].
NRW's approach emphasizes strong public-private partnerships. H2 MOBILITY, a network operator supported by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport’s funding programme, has developed hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in the region [2]. While specific EU funding for Oberhausen's real estate is not detailed, strategic land acquisitions suggest ongoing industrial activity that may benefit from regional or EU incentives for brownfield redevelopment or green investment [4].
The state government's role in facilitating EU fund applications is a topic of discussion, with criticisms raised by Stefan Zimkeit, a member of the state parliament for Oberhausen-Sterkrade and Dinslaken, who considers the start of the EU Regional Fund to be very bumpy [3]. An expert hearing in the state parliament suggests that the state government could contribute more to simplifying the application process for EU funds [3].
The majority of the funding for Oberhausen comes from the EU Regional Fund, with 9.7 million euros flowing into projects since 2019 [3]. The first funds from the EU Regional Fund were approved in 2023, two years after the start of the funding period [3]. Funding from the European Social Fund primarily went to projects for employment promotion and combating homelessness [3].
While the results highlight successful collaboration and milestones, they do not document specific criticisms of the EU funding application process for Oberhausen [1][2]. Any critique would be speculative based on common challenges in such programmes, not on evidence from the provided sources [1][2].
Sources: [1] Air Liquide. (n.d.). Hydrogen: Trailblazer in Oberhausen. Retrieved from https://www.airliquide.com/en/media/news/hydrogen-trailblazer-in-oberhausen [2] H2 MOBILITY. (n.d.). H2 MOBILITY in NRW. Retrieved from https://www.h2-mobility.de/de/ueber-uns/h2-mobility-in-nrw [3] Zimkeit, S. (n.d.). EU-Fonds: Zimkeit fordert Verbesserungen bei der Antragstellung. Retrieved from https://www.zimkeit.de/eu-fonds-zimkeit-fordert-verbesserungen-bei-der-antragstellung/ [4] Sirius Real Estate. (n.d.). Oberhausen Acquisition. Retrieved from https://www.sirius-realestate.com/news/oberhausen-acquisition/
- The state government's role in supporting business ventures such as Air Liquide's hydrogen project in Oberhausen is part of a larger strategy that involves finance and politics, where public-private partnerships play a significant role.
- Despite the successes in renewable energy projects in NRW, the process of applying for EU funds in regions like Oberhausen is a topic of ongoing debate, with criticism about the complexity of the application process and suggestions for simplification.
