However, the impression is often given that green hydrogen, which is of central importance on the way to climate neutrality, can be used as early as tomorrow. In fact, it will probably take another decade before green hydrogen can be used to a sufficient extent. The transformation task facing Germany is particularly large because of the high share of the industrial sector in the gross domestic product. According to the industry association VCI, the power requirements of the chemical industry alone are likely to increase at least tenfold by the mid-2030s.
The chemical industry will then consume more electricity than the entire country currently. Therefore, one thing is already certain: The global capacities for the production of climate-friendly hydrogen will only emerge gradually and will be hotly contested. Germany must therefore rely on as many sources as possible. As the economist Veronika Grimm has established, the conversion of our primary energy requirements away from fossil and towards climate-neutral energy sources means that in future geology will no longer dictate “from whom we buy oil and gas”.
We shouldn’t just look at today’s oil states
We should use this perspective as soon as possible – and not just look at today’s oil states. They want to switch their production from oil and gas to blue hydrogen first and only later to green hydrogen. Habeck should plan a trip to Africa as soon as possible. Because the reorientation towards green, i.e. emission-free hydrogen, makes it possible to secure our energy supply with new partners who – unlike Qatar and the UAE – share at least some of our values and interests.
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Ultimately, despite Putin’s war of aggression, the new German foreign, security and energy policy should be value-based and give greater weight to the enforcement of human rights. The international partnerships that we are entering into as part of the federal government’s hydrogen strategy are likely to have a major impact on our climate, industrial and foreign policy future.
The investment decisions as well as the long-term purchasing relationships and import structures will directly reflect the values of our foreign policy. When looking for suitable partner countries for the production of green hydrogen, we should therefore also look at the African continent. Because the construction of plants for the production of green hydrogen offers Europe the opportunity to cooperate with Africa in the long term. We’ve been looking for a “grand deal” with African countries for a long time. Now is the chance.
Development potential for African countries
In terms of climate, development and investment policy, the path has been mapped out: On the one hand, we Europeans have to make massive investments in order to produce green hydrogen and its derivatives such as ammonia or methanol in sufficient capacities on the way to climate neutrality. On the other hand, green hydrogen offers significant development potential for African countries – mainly for three reasons: First, the energy generated by photovoltaics creates more jobs per unit of energy than conventional sources. At the same time, it makes an important contribution to the development of the infrastructure in the respective country, for example through new roads or modernized ports.
Second, African workers are becoming better skilled in areas such as engineering, project management, operations and maintenance, which will help people in the long run. Thirdly, the energy generated by photovoltaics creates permanent sales security in a trade policy environment in which climate-friendly products have priority. A climate tariff is likely to be imposed on many other traditional African exports to Europe in the future.
The development of this infrastructure is also in the interest of German industry – directly because of the sales prospects and indirectly because it will shape the industrial standards for the hydrogen age. The governance dimension is also important. In the past we have all too often been dependent on regimes for the import of fossil fuels in whose countries human rights did not apply. In addition, the countries are often organized in a kleptocratic manner and riddled with corruption. The revenues from oil and gas exports did not improve the lives of the average population there, but rather led to an even greater concentration of wealth at the top of the income pyramid.
Namibia is particularly suitable as a partner
Countries like Morocco, Namibia and Mauritania are ideal partners for pursuing a progressive Africa policy. Namibia is not only of particular importance from a German point of view. After Botswana and Rwanda, Namibia is one of the top countries in Africa when it comes to fighting corruption. According to Transparency International, it ranks well ahead of Morocco, South Africa and Mauritania. That suggests a level of political stability that should be beneficial for expensive infrastructure projects like building industrial plants to produce green hydrogen.
Namibia’s location in the sub-Saharan region is not a disadvantage. Geographically, the country offers excellent conditions for hydrogen production. Namibia has one of the highest levels of sunshine in the world – and the coastal regions have high average wind speeds, ideal for large wind farms. Namibia estimates that it can produce green hydrogen for just US$1.50 per kilogram in the medium term. Transport by ship would also not be a problem – just like with liquid gas tankers.
There is already intensive discussion about transporting green hydrogen as ammonia or liquid organic carrier material by ship from Chile and Australia to Europe. Southern Africa is an attractive option because of the shorter sea route. Namibia’s government has long since discovered the potential of green hydrogen, developed a national strategy and made extensive development areas available as part of the “Southern Corridor Development Initiative”.
For more than 100 years, we have often been forced to rely on authoritarian regimes when it comes to foreign energy policy. It is now time for us to select suitable partners for emission-free energy ourselves. The aim should be to pursue an energy policy course in which we also ensure that elementary values such as democracy and human rights are preserved. This is the only way we can ensure that the UN Sustainable Development Goals are actually achieved.
The author: Martin R. Stuchtey is co-founder of the company SystemIQ, which wants to accelerate the change to a sustainable economic system. He holds a professorship for resource strategy at the University of Innsbruck.
More: What is important in global climate protection