As the global energy landscape accelerates toward a climate-neutral and secure energy future, the need for real leadership, practical solutions, and visionary thinking has never been greater. ‘In Conversation With’ is a new blog series from Dii Desert Energy that spotlights the voices shaping the energy transition across the MENA region and beyond.
Timo Bollerhey, Chief Executive Officer, H2Global Holding and Hintco
Timo Bollerhey is Chief Executive Officer of H2Global Holding and Hintco, creator of the H2Global mechanism and co-founder of the H2Global Foundation. In addition, Timo has been appointed co-chair of the CertifHy Steering Committee, one of the leading European voluntary certification schemes.
Timo is an investment and financial markets expert with more than 20 years of experience. Before initiating and designing H2Global, he worked as director for the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Brazil, focusing on blended finance approaches and the mobilization of institutional investors towards alternative assets.
Prior to this, he served as Division Manager at the African Development Bank, fostering collaboration and co-financing with strategic private and public-sector partners. Timo has held critical roles such as director of business development at Allianz Global Investors, head of financial institutions and sovereigns for Africa and the Middle East at Raiffeisen Bank International, and Chief Representative Officer Sub-Sahara Africa for UniCredit Group.
About H2Global and Hintco
H2Global is a market-driven instrument designed to foster the development of green markets and mobilize private capital for investments that accelerate the global energy transition. At the heart of H2Global is Hintco, an Intermediary and Green Market Maker which operates as a trader in nascent green markets, driving the global energy transition.
Hintco bridges the gap between supply and demand by trading clean, hydrogen-based molecules using the innovative H2Global double-auction mechanism. To cover the envisaged trading losses (cost of difference), Hintco is supported by multiple governments from Europe, Canada and Australia with more that 6bn USD being pledged or earmarked.
What are you currently focusing on? And why is this important now?
Currently we are fully focused on the second H2Global tender and its four regional lots. The participants have sent their requests for participation that we will now evaluate, and the next phase of the auction process will start soon. In addition, we have started the first joint H2Global tender with the German and Dutch government and are implementing joint H2Global windows with Canada and Australia.
With these tenders, we help projects happen. We create transparent and regular price signals and provide continuous trade flows and liquidity – contributing to a functioning renewable hydrogen market.
“With these tenders, we help projects happen.”
What do you see the impact of the above focus being on the industry?
Given the significant volumes of these auctions, Hintco will contribute to the creation of a market at a time when the industry is in desperate need of real business cases. For the awarded projects, Hintco’s offtake provides the predictable cash flow security needed for FID. From a demand perspective, these auctions generate the necessary price transparency and liquidity, which are prerequisites for a functioning market. Everyone talks about market ramp-up – let’s create the market before it can actually take off!
What will you be discussing at the Dii Desert Energy Leadership Summit this year?
I look forward to discussing the challenges that market participants are facing, and how instruments such as H2Global can be adopted and designed most effectively to overcome these hurdles through a joint effort between the public and private sectors.
Have you been to the Dii Desert Energy Leadership Summit before?
If you want to meet the relevant stakeholders, discuss the relevant issues and take real action, the Dii Desert Energy Leadership Summit is the place to be.
“If you want to meet the relevant stakeholders, discuss the relevant issues and take real action, the Dii Desert Energy Leadership Summit is the place to be.”