Basel Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Swiss Hydrogen Strategy

The Basel Chamber of Commerce welcomes the national hydrogen strategy adopted by the Federal Council as an important step towards a fossil-free energy future. In particular, for the economic region of Basel, with its strong industrial and logistics base, the strategy offers significant opportunities to promote innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability. It is now up to the federal government to create the legal framework for a Swiss hydrogen economy and for the cantons to develop their own hydrogen strategies.

(Basel/Bern) The Basel Chamber of Commerce welcomes the national hydrogen strategy adopted by the Federal Council. “Finally, it is here: The strategy creates the necessary foundations to establish hydrogen as a forward-looking energy carrier in Switzerland,” emphasizes Martin Dätwyler, Director of the Basel Chamber of Commerce. It is now up to the federal government, in particular, to create the legal framework for the promotion and production of hydrogen and to ensure connection to the European hydrogen network. It is up to the cantons to develop their own hydrogen strategies so that the economy can implement concrete measures and Switzerland can become fit for a fossil-free future.

For the Chamber of Commerce, the hydrogen strategy is also an opportunity to advance decarbonization in key economic sectors. Hydrogen and Power-to-X derivatives (PtX derivatives) can make a significant contribution, especially in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and logistics sectors, to replace fossil energy sources and achieve net-zero targets by 2050.

Cantonal Strategies as a Basis for Concrete Measures

The Basel region, as one of the most important economic locations and as a gateway to Switzerland, has the potential to take a leading role in the development and use of hydrogen technologies. “At our Hydrogen Forum 2023, we made it clear: Establishing a domestic hydrogen market is essential to ensure both supply security and the international competitiveness of the Swiss economy in the long term,” says Michael Hug, Head of Transport, Spatial Planning, Energy, and Environment. It is now up to the cantons and the economy to implement concrete measures.

“We urge the cantons to quickly develop their own complementary hydrogen strategies in coordination with the federal government. This also includes reducing bureaucratic hurdles, harmonizing approval processes, clarifying spatial issues, and thus enabling the necessary investments in infrastructure,” Dätwyler is convinced. The Chamber of Commerce has already actively advocated for the development of hydrogen strategies in the parliaments of both Basels and will continue to engage consistently in this effort.

It is also important that the federal government stays engaged on the hydrogen issue and promotes a Swiss hydrogen economy. Compared to neighboring countries, Switzerland is lagging at least two steps behind. “We demand that the federal government now sets a legal framework on which the cantons can build their strategies. We also expect rapid concrete progress regarding Switzerland’s general integration into the European energy system – keyword electricity agreements,” emphasizes Hug.

Securing Connection to the European Pipeline System

The Chamber of Commerce expects that by the mid-2030s, there will be a greater demand for hydrogen than described in the federal strategy. “To provide hydrogen in sufficient quantities and at competitive prices, Switzerland needs a connection to the European Hydrogen Backbone, the European pipeline system for hydrogen, as soon as possible. We therefore support the planned steps to secure the transit gas pipeline and to cooperate internationally with the EU,” emphasizes Dätwyler.

The establishment of a hydrogen market requires close cooperation between the federal government, cantons, cities, and the economy. The Basel Chamber of Commerce is ready to actively support this process together with politics and businesses.

Photo © H2-HUB Switzerland / Image Caption: Planned hydrogen hub at the Birsfelden port near Basel