At the invitation of the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Peter Altmaier, the Federal Minister for Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Andreas Scheuer, the Federal Minister for Research and Education, Anja Karliczek and the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation met to discuss the role of Hydrogen in Germany.

Gerd Müller the Minister of Economic cooperation and with over 700 participants met to discuss the future role of hydrogen in the energy transition and for climate protection.

The associated industrial policy potential in Germany and in developing and emerging countries were discussed. The conference gives all relevant actors the opportunity to contribute their views and substantive contributions to a National Hydrogen Strategy of the Federal Government. This should be passed by the end of the year.

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Peter Altmaier: “Gaseous energy sources, above all hydrogen, will be a key raw material for a long-term, successful energy transition , while the production of CO ₂ -free and CO ₂ -neutral hydrogen offers great industrial policy opportunities Already setting the course today for Germany becoming the world’s number 1 in hydrogen technologies. ”

Federal Minister for Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Andreas Scheuer: “Hydrogen, fuel cells and electricity are driving the future.” We have been promoting many studies and pilot projects on hydrogen and fuel cell technology in transport in recent years, and now the automotive industry needs to bring affordable vehicles to market People show that the technology works reliably, and our hydrogen strategy is designed to help the industry. ”

Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Michael Meister: “Hydrogen is a key energy source of the future, and green hydrogen is a key technology for achieving our climate goals.” At the same time, hydrogen technology offers enormous market opportunities for the German industry of hydrogen and the development of technologies wants to lead Germany and therefore we have to increase the pace of the National Hydrogen Strategy. ”

Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Gerd Müller: “Climate change has long been a question of survival for humankind, we need a global energy transition to meet this challenge, and we must make a quantum leap towards CO2-neutral, synthetic fuels We can draw on the renewable energy that we need from the power of the sun, which shines 365 days a year in Africa, and that can be the cornerstone of a new energy partnership between Europe and Africa.

The Federal Government will develop a hydrogen strategy with an action plan by the end of the year. At the conference, the four ministries published a paper as a contribution to the discussion.

Whether in industry, in transport or in the heating sector: we need green energy in all areas of life in order to achieve our climate goals. For this, we must be able to bring the renewables into the fields of application that are difficult to electrify. In addition, Germany, like other states, will not be able to sustainably meet its energy needs. Energy imports will also be necessary for the future. Green hydrogen is a promising solution. It offers enormous opportunities for the location in Germany. Green hydrogen is produced – for example, by electrolysis – climate-neutral from renewable electricity. So we can store the energy of sun and wind with a versatile energy source,

Green hydrogen is therefore a much needed building block for so-called sector coupling and the development of a sustainable, global energy system based on renewables. True to the motto “Shipping the sunshine”, green hydrogen can be produced and exported from regions with high levels of wind, sun and water to meet the world’s energy needs. Green hydrogen has the potential to become tomorrow’s climate-friendly oil.

Climate protection “made in Germany”

Technologies for green hydrogen are therefore of utmost importance for the future viability of Germany as an industrial location. Against this background, the Federal Government will launch the National Hydrogen Strategy later this year. It shows how we can use green hydrogen in industry, transport and the energy system to maintain our competitiveness, achieve our climate protection goals and enter new markets. The main focus is on a systemic approach that combines generation, transport, distribution and use of hydrogen, including the international dimension.

The National Hydrogen Strategy integrates climate, energy, industry and innovation policy. The aim is to make Germany an international pioneer in green hydrogen and to secure and secure the world market leadership in hydrogen technologies in the long term. Climate protection technologies “made in Germany” should become a new trademark: German research and companies are among the world leaders in hydrogen technologies and the construction of complex industrial plants is a core competence of plant engineering. The unique opportunity to become an outfitter of a global energy turnaround with our know-how is to be used.

Hydrogen partnerships in Europe and the world

Through research, we will build new strategic hydrogen partnerships in Europe and around the world. With a “Green Energy Potential Atlas”, the Ministry of Research, together with African partners, will analyze the chances of green hydrogen for the sustainable development of the African continent. This will create new export opportunities and sales markets for innovative technology companies from Germany.

More than 300 million euros extra for green hydrogen

Green hydrogen has been a priority topic of energy research funding by the Federal Ministry of Research for many years. In the field of hydrogen technology, the BMBF promotes technology-friendly, highly innovative approaches to production, transport, and use. The focus is on electrolysis, methane pyrolysis, artificial photosynthesis, and fuel cells. For this purpose, the BMBF is already investing 180 million euros by 2021. This innovation funding should now be even more closely integrated with climate, energy and economic policy. As part of the National Hydrogen Strategy, the BMBF will continue to promote the development of new climate-friendly hydrogen technologies. More than 300 million euros are available by 2023 from the Climate Fund alone

Source: BMBF