The question of what role hydrogen-based fuel should play in the transport sector is a controversial political issue.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin The subject of hydrogen has been shaping the energy policy debate for months. After the still incumbent federal government decided on its National Hydrogen Strategy (NWS) in June of last year, companies in particular from the energy industry and energy-intensive sectors announced one project after the other. However, the projects are still a long way from being implemented. The economic actors are convinced that this must change as quickly as possible.
In a paper available to the Handelsblatt, which was produced under the leadership of the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (DWV), it says that the NWS must be “qualitatively and quantitatively specified”. It is up to the next federal government “whether Germany can take the lead in the future hydrogen industry or not”.
The next coalition agreement must therefore allow extensive scope for the development of a German hydrogen market economy and define specific goals and instruments. Various other associations were involved in drawing up the paper, including the VDMA, the ADAC and the VKU.
In fact, Germany and Europe are in tough international competition. Countries such as Japan and China, but also Australia, are driving large projects along the entire hydrogen value chain. The paper points out that the annual global market trading potential of the hydrogen industry will amount to two trillion euros in a few years. The annual global turnover in mechanical and plant engineering alone will amount to 300 billion euros.
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How a traffic light coalition, currently the most likely coalition variant, will position itself on the subject of hydrogen is still open. Differences are likely to arise in particular with regard to the question of what role hydrogen should play in the transport sector. Discussions on the subject of blue hydrogen are also foreseeable.
Greens reject blue hydrogen
Blue hydrogen is produced in the conventional way by steam reforming on the basis of natural gas. The released CO2 is captured and stored underground (Carbon Capture and Storage, CCS for short). The Greens reject this procedure. Large parts of the SPD also have major reservations. They focus entirely on green hydrogen, which is produced using electricity from renewable sources through electrolysis.
The paper emphasizes the potential of synthetic fuels that are produced on the basis of hydrogen for the existing passenger car fleet. Synthetic fuels could make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 through admixture quotas. The authors of the paper attach great importance to designating additional areas for further offshore wind turbines in order to increase the production capacities for green hydrogen. The availability of electricity from renewable sources at affordable prices is one of the basic requirements for the ramp-up of a hydrogen economy.
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