One of the most interesting observations from last week’s H2-diplo – Decarbonization Diplomacy study tour in Germany was seeing how Europe is approaching the modernization of existing energy infrastructure.

At the Uniper site in the Ruhr region, the discussion was not about building an entirely new energy system from zero. Instead, the focus is increasingly on how existing industrial assets can evolve and adapt to future energy needs.

Old coal-based infrastructure is gradually being transformed into multi-purpose energy hubs integrating:

• flexible power generation
• hydrogen technologies
• ammonia-related solutions
• renewable energy balancing capacities

This approach is particularly important because it demonstrates that the energy transition is not only a technological challenge, but also an infrastructure challenge.

One of the most discussed topics during the visit was ammonia cracking — a technology designed to convert imported ammonia back into hydrogen for industrial and energy applications.

For countries expected to import large volumes of hydrogen in the future, this model may become part of a broader energy strategy.

For Ukraine, however, the perspective can be different. As a country with significant renewable energy potential and large industrial demand, Ukraine may have opportunities not only to participate in future hydrogen trade, but also to develop domestic hydrogen-based energy and industrial systems more directly.

In this context, post-war reconstruction creates not only challenges, but also an opportunity to rethink how future energy infrastructure should look: more flexible, more decentralized, and more compatible with low-carbon technologies.

The broader takeaway is clear: hydrogen is increasingly becoming part of long-term infrastructure planning — not only energy policy.