Siemens is planning a hydrogen research laboratory and innovation campus in the east German city of Görlitz, where the company’s turbine plant was previously due to be shut down. Chancellor Angela Merkel called the plans a “milestone” for Görlitz, which could turn the region – still very dependent on mining the lignite Germany plans to phase out – into a “region of innovation”, according to cleanenergywire.com.

Siemens has promised the eastern German city of Görlitz a laboratory for hydrogen research, an innovation campus to attract high-tech companies, 30 million euros in investments and 100 new jobs, in a declaration of intent, signed by the company, the Free State of Saxony and research organisation Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Together, the three pledge to “support structural change in Lusatia”, a region that still depends heavily on coal for income and jobs, and will be heavily affected by Germany’s planned exit from coal-fired power generation.

The innovation campus will be focused on energy technology, automation, manufacturing technologies, digitalisation and innovative material, Siemens says.

In addition, a research laboratory at Siemens’ site in Görlitz is to investigate the production, storage and use of hydrogen. Over the next five years, the site should create around “100 new, highly qualified jobs”.