CleanTech Business Club at The Smarter E & Intersolar Europe 2025: Empowering CleanTech Leadership, H2H Collaboration & Clean Hydrogen Mobility with KEYOU

Updated: May 29

Every year, The Smarter E and Intersolar Europe in Munich become a global stage for innovation, collaboration, and inspiration in the clean energy sector. And, as always, the CleanTech Business Club (CBC) was proud to be there—not just as attendees, but as connectors of change, co-creators of future ecosystems, and above all, as a family of visionary leaders shaping the next wave of clean energy transformation.

Human-to-Human: The CBC Way

While cutting-edge technologies were being showcased across exhibition halls, our CBC Leadership Family focused on something even more powerful: Human-to-Human (H2H) relationships.

In a world where technology becomes a commodity, H2H trust, shared values, and common purpose are what fuel resilience and real progress—especially in times of geopolitical uncertainty and systemic change.

At CBC, we believe that innovation is not just about product launches or funding rounds—it’s about people with the courage to collaborate, uplift, and drive systemic change. That’s why every CBC reunion at The Smarter E feels like coming home.

Whether through dozens of bilateral and multilateral face-to-face meetings or our warm CBC Family Dinner at the historic Augustiner am Platzl, one thing was clear: the spirit of #TogetherWeAreStronger has never been more alive.

HyperStrong: Becoming Truly Hyperstronger

Among the most inspiring highlights of this year was our meeting with Dr. Jianhui Zhang, CEO of Beijing HyperStrong Technology; Board Member, US-China Green Energy Council (UCGEC); CBC Chair, Utilities & Energy Companies Hub – China

We were thrilled to witness how HyperStrong, a proud CBC Visionary Partner, continues to evolve—not just as a domestic leader in China, but as a truly global clean energy powerhouse.

HyperStrong’s Recent Achievements:

IPO Success: On January 27, 2025, HyperStrong was successfully listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s STAR Market (Ticker: 688411). The IPO closed at RMB 63.80—surging 229% above the issue price—marking a powerful financial milestone to fuel global expansion.
New Innovations: At The Smarter E 2025, HyperStrong unveiled:
- MagicBlock: A modular AI-driven BESS housed in a compact 10-foot container, optimized for 2–8 hour discharges and grid flexibility.
- HyperBlock M: A next-gen, client-centric energy storage platform designed for adaptability and scalable deployment in various market conditions.
Global Expansion:
- Asia-Pacific HQ launched in Sydney, Australia
- NW Storm HyperStrong Asia JV set up in Singapore
- Strategic MoU signed with Konflux Kapital International GmbH (Germany) to bolster BESS projects across Europe
Award Recognition: HyperStrong was honored as a finalist at The Smarter E AWARD 2025 in the “Outstanding Projects” category for its Beijing Siyuanqiao Integrated Charging + Storage Station, demonstrating excellence in energy innovation and urban infrastructure.

A huge round of applause to Jianhui Zhang, Pingyang Wang, and the entire HyperStrong team. Your journey is a model of vision, execution, and global leadership. #TogetherWeAreHyperstronger 💪

CBC H2Driving Experience Tour with KEYOU & water stuff & sun

One of the most electrifying moments of the week was the CBC Leaders’ H2Driving Experience Tour, hosted by Thomas Korn, Founder & CEO of KEYOU, and the award-winning team at water stuff & sun GmbH.

At this special event, CBC members had the opportunity to hard-test drive a hydrogen-powered truck, retrofitted using KEYOU’s pioneering hydrogen combustion engine—and yes, it performed impressively well!

What Makes KEYOU Unique?

KEYOU retrofits conventional diesel engines to run on hydrogen—enabling zero-emission transport without the complexity and cost of fuel cells.
Their showcased 18-ton truck boasts a 7.8L engine, delivering 210 kW of power and up to 600 km range—meeting Euro VI standards with no need for exhaust after-treatment.
They’ve already delivered trucks to commercial fleets, including a major handover to EP Trans in December 2024.
KEYOU also partners with Komatsu to develop hydrogen-powered dump trucks for heavy-duty industrial applications—proving hydrogen mobility can scale across sectors.

Historic MoU Signed During the Tour

During this symbolic driving experience, CBC proudly signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding "Strategic Collaboration for Advancing Clean Hydrogen Mobility and Sustainable Technologies in Morocco and Africa" between:

CleanTech Business Club (CBC)
KEYOU
water stuff & sun GmbH
CBC Joint Ventures: GFHA (Go For Hydrogen Africa) & Cleanvestree Africa

This bold partnership lays the foundation for a Clean Hydrogen Mobility Ecosystem, where transport becomes a strategic hydrogen off-taker across:

Mining
Long-haul logistics
Port and maritime operations
Heavy-duty vehicles and retrofitted fleets

Why It Matters: Hydrogen Mobility in Morocco & Africa

Africa has the potential to leapfrog into global leadership in clean hydrogen mobility. Here's what it will take:

📈 High Ambition Scenario for 2035:

500 000+ hydrogen-powered trucks on African roads
30–40 GW of green hydrogen production capacity
15+ large-scale hydrogen megaprojects
Hydrogen refueling corridors along Trans-African highways
Local manufacturing in Morocco, South Africa, and Egypt
Strategic off-take in mining, ports, freight, and rural transport

The global hydrogen truck market is projected to grow from $1.9 billion (2024) to $10.8 billion (2035). If Africa captures even a small share, the economic and climate impact will be profound.

Closing Reflections: The Spirit of Munich

Being back in Munich is always a special feeling. For many CBC Members, it’s a tradition spanning decades of friendships, partnerships, and clean energy breakthroughs.

The Smarter E & Intersolar Europe remain the epicenter of clean technology innovation in Europe—and a powerful convergence point for the CBC Leadership Family.

We return from this year’s edition:

More inspired
More connected
More determined than ever to shape a future powered by clean hydrogen, resilient ecosystems, and above all—human collaboration.