Berlin (energate) - The call for the establishment of a hydrogen grid company with state participation is no longer part of the National Hydrogen Strategy. This is the result of an updated draft dated 24 February that is available to energate. This means that the FDP (Liberal Democratic Party) could also agree to the paper. The debate about the role of the state in the development of hydrogen grids has delayed the adoption of the new National Hydrogen Strategy for months. It is to replace the strategy adopted by the grand coalition in 2020.
In the first draft from the end of 2022, there was talk of a hydrogen grid company with state participation (
energate reported). Germany's
economics minister Robert Habeck (Greens) is particularly in favour of this. He said that the transmission system operator Gascade, in which the German government holds shares through the nationalised Sefe, could be used for this purpose. There has been sharp criticism of state grid plans not only from the ranks of the FDP, but also from gas grid operators (
energate reported).
Concept for hydrogen grid company in the works
The updated draft now states that a hydrogen grid company will be founded in order to "coordinate the development of a hydrogen grid and make it financially feasible". "A concept for this is currently being developed. There is no longer any talk of state involvement. Even if this does not settle the question of what role the state should ultimately play in the hydrogen grid, the FDP could also agree to the hydrogen strategy as it stands.
Most recently, Germany's commissioner for green hydrogen, Till Mansmann (FDP), had expressed his scepticism about a state-owned hydrogen company and emphasised that he hoped for a formulation in the strategy that he could support (
energate reported). The draft also emphasises that existing natural gas pipelines should be reused "as far as possible" for a cost-effective development of the hydrogen infrastructure.
"At least" 10,000 MW electrolysis
The revised hydrogen strategy should take into account the expected higher demand for hydrogen by 2030. Accordingly, the German government expects demand to reach 95 to 130 TWh by 2030. Around 70 per cent of this is expeceted to come from imports, with the rest coming from the development of domestic electrolysis capacities of "at least" 10,000 MW.
More room for turquoise and blue hydrogen
When it comes to imports, the German government does not only want to rely on green hydrogen. "In order to ensure a rapid build-up and ramp-up of the hydrogen market and to prevent a lack of demand coverage during the transformation phase, we will also use low-carbon hydrogen for imports," the paper states. In addition to blue hydrogen, turquoise hydrogen is also mentioned - both can be produced from natural gas. However, according to the strategy, these must comply with a limit of 25 grams of CO2-equivalent per MJ of hydrogen. The German government follows the guidelines of the EU taxonomy regulation. In the paper, it announces that it will launch an import strategy for hydrogen.
Focus on industry
The question of where hydrogen is to be used remains unchanged from the previous version and from the current hydrogen strategy for 2020. By 2030, it should be used primarily in industry, such as the chemical and steel industries, or in transport, "in fuel cells or as a renewable fuel". In the heating sector, there is "only a very limited application". However, the document goes on to say that decisions on its future use should be prepared by 2030. /kw
