Online Webinar | 24 February 2026 | 10:00am – 11:30am CET | 08:00pm – 09:30pm AEDT
On 24 February, the Net-Zero Industries Mission (NIM) hosted the webinar “Hydrogen Pathways – Scaling the Value Chain for a Net-Zero Industry” in cooperation with the Alliance for Industry Decarbonization (AFID) and the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP). Moderated by Alan Monaghan, NIM Mission Coordinator, whose structured guidance and engaging facilitation ensured a dynamic and well-focused discussion throughout, the event brought together around 180 participants from 18 countries. This strong international turnout underlined the global commitment to advancing hydrogen as a cornerstone of industrial decarbonisation.
Strategic Opening and International Alignment
Urban Peyker, Mission Director of NIM and Head of Industry, Enterprise and Financing at Austria’s Climate and Energy Fund, opened the session by highlighting hydrogen’s central role in achieving climate neutrality. He stressed that scaling the hydrogen economy requires coordinated progress in renewable electricity expansion, infrastructure development, regulatory frameworks and investment security.
Zafar Samadov, Head of Partnerships at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), addressed participants on behalf of AFID, emphasising the importance of global public–private collaboration. Åsa Bergérus Rensvik from the Swedish Energy Agency introduced the perspective of CETP, outlining how coordinated research and innovation programmes help bridge the gap between technological development and market deployment.
Hydrogen in Hard-to-Abate Sectors
In his keynote, Piero Venturi, Director of the Clean Hydrogen Mission, explored the integration of hydrogen in hard-to-abate sectors. He identified both opportunities and structural barriers, noting that cost-competitive renewable electricity and large-scale electrolysis are decisive for enabling green hydrogen to compete with fossil-based alternatives.
Benjy Lee from HILT CRC presented Australia’s hydrogen policy approach to de-risking heavy industry decarbonisation. He illustrated how clear regulatory signals and targeted funding instruments can create investment certainty and support large demonstration projects.
Sven Schuppener, Hydrogen Expert at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), highlighted hydrogen partnerships in the Mediterranean region, demonstrating how international cooperation can strengthen industrial capacity, foster technology transfer and develop emerging hydrogen markets.
From Hydrogen Valleys to Industrial Deployment
Margherita Matzer of WIVA P&G provided insights into Austria’s transition from individual projects to integrated hydrogen valleys, including backbone planning and stakeholder coordination. Her presentation underscored the importance of ecosystem-based approaches for scaling hydrogen applications across sectors.
Dr Patrick Fortin from SINTEF presented progress in high-performance, durable and low-cost PEM electrolysis. His work focuses on improving efficiency while reducing reliance on critical raw materials, thereby strengthening the economic case for large-scale green hydrogen production.
Volker Schöllmann from Hybrit Development AB concluded the technical session with insights into hydrogen storage in lined rock caverns for fossil-free iron and steel production. He outlined how advanced material testing, safety validation and monitoring systems are applied to ensure secure large-scale storage as part of integrated industrial value chains.
Key Takeaways
The webinar demonstrated that hydrogen technologies are advancing rapidly, yet systemic challenges remain in scaling infrastructure, securing financing and creating stable demand. The strong engagement of participants from 18 countries confirmed that building a competitive and sustainable hydrogen economy requires sustained international cooperation across policy, research and industry.
Watch the webinar recording
Presentations
- Welcome Note and brief introduction NIM, Urban Peyker, NIM Mission Director, Head of Industry, Enterprise and Financing, Climate and Energy Fund, Austria
- Welcome Note AFID, Zafar Samadov, Head of Partnerships, IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency)
- Welcome Note CETP + Introduction, Åsa Bergérus Rensvik, Research Programme Manager, Swedish Energy Agency, CET Partnership TRI6 Office
- Hydrogen Integration in Hard‑to‑Abate Sectors – Opportunities and Barriers, Piero Venturi, Clean Hydrogen Mission Director, European Commission
- De-risking Decarbonisation for Heavy Industry – Hydrogen Policy in Australia, Benjy Lee, Strategic Policy Advisor, HILT CRC
- UNIDO Hydrogen Partnerships in the Mediterranean, Sven Schuppener, Hydrogen Expert, UNIDO
- From individual projects to Hydrogen Valleys – Austria: Current developments and plans, Margherita Matzer, WIVA P&G
- Progress Towards High‑Performance, Durable, and Low‑Cost PEM Electrolysis, Dr Patrick Fortin, Senior Research Scientist, SINTEF
- Hydrogen storage in lined rock caverns for HYBRIT fossil-free iron and steel, Volker Schöllmann, Head of Technology & IP, Hybrit Development AB
Moderation: Dr Alan Monaghan, Mission Coordinator, Net-Zero Industries Mission
Speakers
Urban Peyker, NIM Mission Director, Head of Industry, Enterprise and Financing, Climate and Energy Fund, Austria
Urban Peyker is the Head of the Industry, Enterprise, and Financing department at the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund. He leads initiatives to promote sustainable industrial practices and drive Austria’s transition to clean energy. Previously, he managed programs on Smart Grids, Hydrogen and Industrial Decarbonisation at the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). He has also worked as an energy efficiency consultant and as an energy market analyst. Peyker plays a key role in funding and supporting projects that enhance energy efficiency, sustainability, and climate innovation. His leadership contributes significantly to Austria’s climate goals and the advancement of green technologies.
Zafar Samadov, Head of Partnerships, IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency)
Zafar Samadov advances partnerships with international, regional, and national stakeholders along with the industry sharing a common vision of promoting an accelerated deployment of renewable energy and net zero ambitions. He leads the multi-stakeholder platforms, the Alliance for Industry Decarbonization and the Utilities for Net Zero Alliance. Prior to joining IRENA, he held senior positions in the field of renewable energy and infrastructure projects in the Tractebel Group, International Energy Charter, Friends of Supergrid, Swiss Development Cooperation and US Building Operations.
Åsa Bergérus Rensvik, Research Programme Manager, Swedish Energy Agency
Åsa oversees RD&I funding for programs and projects focused on sustainable industry and international collaboration. She leads the Clean Energy Transition Partnership’s TRI 6 for the focus area Integrated Industrial Energy Systems. Prior to her current role, Åsa served as a Senior Advisor/Programme Manager for the International Policy Cooperation Unit and waste management expert at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
Piero Venturi, Clean Hydrogen Mission Director, European Commission
For nearly 20 years, Piero Venturi has worked for the European Commission in food, agriculture, bioeconomy; energy and international cooperation with a focus on Latin America and Africa. He was Science Counsellor of the European Union for African Union and Africa in the EU Delegation to AU in Addis Ababa and, before, for Brazil and Latin America in the EU Delegation to Brazil. In these positions he was responsible for the policy framework for R&I cooperation with stakeholders and Member States in Africa and Latin America. Then, he has been G7 and G20 EU Sherpa and responsible for the EU network of Science Counsellors.
Benjy Lee, Strategic Policy Advisor, HILT CRC
Benjy Lee specialises in energy and climate policy development, future fuels research and net-zero carbon strategies. Over the last five years as an independent consultant, Benjy’s clients have included the Future Fuels CRC, Centre for New Energy Technologies (C4NET), CSIRO, Innovate UK and many more. He has over two decades of experience covering environmental engineering, carbon management, commercial and public affairs roles across a variety of sectors, with over a decade at Jemena, where he played a key role in shaping their energy policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement approach.
Patrick Fortin, Senior Research Scientist, SINTEF
Dr Patrick Fortin is a Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Sustainable Energy Technologies at SINTEF, where he leads research efforts in the development and characterization of advanced materials for hydrogen technologies. He has over 12 years of R&D experience in polymer-based electrochemical energy conversion devices with an emphasis on addressing the fundamental materials challenges that underpin the performance, durability, and scalability of these technologies. His work aims to bridge fundamental materials chemistry with devicelevel performance, helping to enable efficient, robust, and scalable PEM electrolyzer systems.
Sven Schuppener, Hydrogen Expert, UNIDO
Sven Schuppener has eight years of experience in developing and implementing technical assistance projects across more than 10 countries in Africa and the MENA region. He currently serves as Hydrogen Expert at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). In his role, Sven oversees the Global Partnership for Hydrogen in Industry and implements technical assistance projects in Northern and Southern Africa, where he advises member states on hydrogen policy, market development, and the industrial application of hydrogen. Sven holds a master’s degree in Environment and Development from the London School of Economics.
Margherita Matzer, Project Manager, WIVA P&G
Margherita Matzer is project manager of Austria’s first hydrogen valley, the Hydrogen Industrial Inland Valley Austria (HI2 Valleys). The HI2 Valley was launched at the beginning of 2025 and is funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. With over 40 partners in the Hydrogen Valley and the WIVA P&G hydrogen network, a joint platform is being created where projects can be generated, developed and implemented. Margherita Matzer has been working in project coordination at WIVA P&G since 2022. In this role, she has gained extensive insight into a wide variety of projects along the entire climate-neutral hydrogen value chain over the years.
Volker Schöllmann, Head of Technology & IP, Hybrit Development AB
Volker has more than 15 years experience from technical development work in the mining and metals industry. Volker joined HYBRIT Development AB in 2017. He has been deeply involved in building up and running the HYBRIT pilot scale development program between 2018 and 2024. Today he is responsible for Technology and Intellectual Property within the HYBRIT joint venture company.
Moderator
Dr Alan Monaghan, NIM Mission Coordinator
Dr Alan Monaghan, Global Mission Coordinator of the Net-Zero Industries Mission, is a physicist, specialising in developing and delivering executive level strategy and change programs, from organisational restructures and project delivery capability establishment, through to the special risk management needed for technology development, implementation and commercialisation. He is currently the Senior Vice President of the global Technology & Expert Solutions team for Worley’s Resources sector, where Worley’s global SME pool is engaged to provide high priority customer solutions, across innovation and solution validation, through to project delivery, including leading their First of a Kind technology delivery and external technology partnership programs.