German Industry, Policymakers Urge Patience on Hydrogen Conversion

ESSEN, Germany– Investor caution about hydrogen as a future source of energy to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases did not suggest slowing resolve to phase out fossil fuels, German industry executives and policymakers said on Wednesday, pleading for patience.

They told a conference organised by the Handelsblatt business newspaper that regulatory support for new value chains would bring about a large-scale switch to renewably derived hydrogen energy early next decade.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Germany wants national electrolysis capacity of 10 gigawatts (GW) by 2030. Last month, it approved an acceleration bill to help decarbonise the EU’s lead industry, whose manufacturers are key to future hydrogen consumption.

Critics say that final investment decisions on only 300 MW of projects, according to data presented by utility E.ON (EONGn.DE), opens new tab, indicate of possible failure, while reliance on future bulk imports is nebulous.

If Germany does not manage the move to hydrogen, it will weaken the entire bloc’s chances of adopting it and competing successfully with the United States and China.

KEY QUOTES

– Member of parliament Till Mansmann, an adviser on green hydrogen innovation to the federal ministry of education and research: “Green hydrogen will reach German consumers early next decade. We must remain brave and must not suffocate our companies with over-regulation.”

– EnBW (EBKG.DE), opens new tab chief operating officer Dirk Guesewell: “The overall value chain needs organising and synchronising. We don’t need hype, we need time.”

– Cetin Nazikkol, chief strategy officer at Thyssenkrupp Decarbon Technologies: “It is not unusual that projects see delays. We need more speed, but there is no fundamental question behind it.”

– Kerstin Andreae, head of utility industry association BDEW: “We need more patience. We are building up something big. What companies most need is planning security over the terms of future governments.”