In order to achieve the climate policy goals, Germany must quickly take ambitious steps to ramp up the hydrogen economy.
The “Hydrogen Action Plan Germany 2021-2025” contains 80 proposals from the National Hydrogen Council (NWR) for the next federal government. The 26 experts of the advisory body to the federal government presented the action plan today to the head of the Chancellery, Prof. Dr. Hand over to Helge Braun.
Berlin–The National Hydrogen Council was appointed in June 2020 together with the resolution of the National Hydrogen Strategy to advise and support the Federal Government with proposals and recommendations for action in the implementation and further development of the National Hydrogen Strategy. Helge Braun thanked the members of the council for the work they have done so far: “Since it was founded last summer, the Hydrogen Council has already been able to provide many important impulses. With its statements and now with the 2021-2025 Action Plan, the Council provides valuable input for government work and the urgently needed market ramp-up of hydrogen technologies. Because hydrogen is indispensable for achieving our ambitious energy and climate goals and at the same time opens up new markets and economic opportunities for us.
Katherina Reiche, the chairwoman of the National Hydrogen Council, emphasized: “Hydrogen is the basic requirement for the decarbonisation of applications that cannot be converted to green electricity either technically or economically. Greenhouse gas emissions can only be reduced comprehensively and efficiently through a consistent ramp-up of the hydrogen economy. We see the action plan as a blueprint for a government program on hydrogen after the federal elections in September. From our point of view, the implementation of these measures is essential in order to be able to achieve the even more stringent climate targets. ”
The action plan is divided into three parts: First, the initial situation is discussed with a view to climate protection goals, industrial potential and the legal framework. The second part summarizes the discussion about the expected ramp-up of the hydrogen economy by the year 2030 – separated according to requirements, volume and necessary infrastructure. The third part derives concrete recommendations for action, prioritized according to urgency, for the efficient implementation of the national hydrogen strategy. “It is a matter of realizing the hydrogen market ramp-up along the entire value chain – from generation to storage and transport to applications and a qualified supplier industry,” says Katherina Reiche.
Concrete proposals for action: 80 measures with time prioritization
In the action plan, the NWR proposed 80 individual measures and prioritized them in terms of time. In particular, the necessary decisions for industry must be made at very short notice: First and foremost is the availability of green hydrogen, followed by the recording of the CO 2 footprint of the gases used in industrial processes through the introduction of uniform guarantees of origin. The action plan also shows short-term development needs for state funding instruments.
In the transport sector, the NWR members see a short-term need for action within the next two years. In addition to standardization aspects and questions relating to the EU’s regulatory framework, the main focus is on building a Europe-wide filling station infrastructure and building a supplier industry with state support.
In the action plan, the NWR also shows the need for action in the regulatory framework. He pays particular attention to a suitable price incentive: “Firstly, CO2 pricing must be strengthened in all sectors, secondly, the electricity price must be exempt from the EEG surcharge and, thirdly, the electricity tax must be significantly reduced,” explained Katherina Reiche.
The study is available for download at the bottom of the page and on the “Statements and Positions” page . (German Only)
THE NATIONAL HYDROGEN COUNCIL
With the adoption of the National Hydrogen Strategy, the Federal Government appointed the National Hydrogen Council on June 10, 2020. The council consists of 26 high-ranking experts from business, science and civil society who are not part of public administration. The members of the Hydrogen Council have expertise in the areas of generation, research and innovation, decarbonisation of industry, transport and buildings / heating, infrastructure, international partnerships, and climate and sustainability. The National Hydrogen Council is headed by Katherina Reiche, Chairwoman of the Board of Westenergie AG and Parliamentary State Secretary a. D.
The task of the National Hydrogen Council is to advise and support the State Secretaries’ Committee for Hydrogen with proposals and recommendations for action in the implementation and further development of the hydrogen strategy.
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