Credit DBT Inga HaarSource: © BMBF/Hans-Joachim Rickel

From left to right: Robert Habeck, Bettina Stark-Watzinger and Volker Wissing at the presentation of the update of the National Hydrogen Strategy. 

Federal Cabinet adopts update of the National Hydrogen Strategy

On July 26, 2023, the Federal Cabinet decided to update the National Hydrogen Strategy. The federal government wants to:

 

  • accelerate the market ramp-up with an increase in domestic production to 10GW by 2030,
  • build a German hydrogen infrastructure with the hydrogen core network,
  • Establish hydrogen applications in industry, heavy goods vehicles and the energy sector. The heating sector is now also being taken into account with references to the Building Energy Act (GEG). 
  • Creating planning security through a legal framework, 
  • create a separate import strategy. 
To the NWS

Dr. Alexander Bedrunka, Project Manager of the Lower Saxony Hydrogen Network at the Climate Protection and Energy Agency of Lower Saxony, comments: "It is very pleasing that the update of the National Hydrogen Strategy has finally been adopted. It contains a large number of sensible measures that can significantly accelerate the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy. The increase in electrolysis capacity from 5 to 10 GW and thus the strengthening of domestic production is a positive signal. In this context, Lower Saxony plays a central role together with the other northern German states.

As a large part of our demand has to be covered by imports, an import strategy urgently needs to be developed and published. Only in this way can necessary projects be implemented promptly with potential export countries. Otherwise, there is a risk that we will not be able to meet our hydrogen demand in 2030.

The hydrogen core network, which was published on 12.07.23 by FNB Gas e.V. as part of the NWS, provides a good basis for the development of a nationwide transport infrastructure. For the further development of the hydrogen core network, it is particularly important to clarify where hydrogen will be required in the future and in what quantities, and where suitable locations for electrolysers can be found to serve the system. Storage options must also be given greater consideration here. This requires close cooperation between the federal and state governments."

Dr. Mehrdad Payandeh, Chairman of the DGB Lower Saxony and partner of the NWN: "We demand that good working conditions are always guaranteed in the promotion and transformation aid within the framework of the hydrogen strategy. This is of great importance in order to ensure the social compatibility of the socio-ecological transformation and to make employees the shapers of the transformation.

For example, it is important to enforce or maintain collective wage agreements with fair wages and, accordingly, to only award public contracts to companies bound by collective agreements in the further process of ramping up the hydrogen economy. Co-determination structures in companies also need to be strengthened so that the upcoming changes in the economy are not carried out on the backs of employees or companies forego their expertise.

The technological openness with regard to the various types of hydrogen is to be welcomed. At the same time, however, we need to have an open discussion about the use of CCS (carbon capture and storage) in order to adequately assess the impact on the environment.

Finally, we emphasize the importance of increased measures for the qualification and further training of skilled workers. Unfortunately, these aspects are neglected in the update of the National Hydrogen Strategy. Only through targeted training and further education can we meet the demand for skilled workers in the developing areas of hydrogen technology and successfully manage structural change. It is crucial to actively involve employees in the change processes and provide them with the necessary skills to benefit from the opportunities of the hydrogen economy. Only in this way can the socio-ecological transformation succeed."

Dr. Volker Müller, Managing Director of Unternehmerverbände Niedersachsen e.V. (UVN), partner of the NWN: "The adoption of the update of the National Hydrogen Strategy (NWS) is extremely pleasing, as it contains a large number of sensible measures that can significantly accelerate the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy and create a basis for strengthening Germany as an industrial country and business location as well as for sustainable jobs. The increase in electrolysis capacity from 5 to 10 GW is particularly positive and will enable Lower Saxony to play a central role in conjunction with the other northern German states."

Further reactions from the industry:

Christiane Averbeck, Managing Director of Climate Alliance Germany and member of the National Hydrogen Council

"Since hydrogen will remain a scarce commodity worldwide despite the greatest efforts, there must also be a clear prioritization of the areas of application - hydrogen should not be used in decentralized heat supply, for example, but rather in industry!"(To the press release)

Verena Graichen, Deputy Chairwoman of BUND and member of the National Hydrogen Council

"Two other important aspects have been completely missing from the strategy so far: efficiency and reducing energy demand."(To the press release)

Dr. Simone Peter, President of the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE)

"[...] Instead of focusing on domestic potential for the production of green hydrogen, the German government's strategy is primarily aimed at imports by ship, including blue hydrogen. Due to its upstream chain emissions, blue hydrogen is not only much more harmful to the climate than green hydrogen, but also more expensive, as a recent study by the Wuppertal Institute showed."(To the press release)

Kerstin Andreae, Chairwoman of the BDEW Executive Board

"[...] The German government must back up its target of 10 GW of domestic electrolysis capacity by 2030 with more concrete measures and support programs - both on the generation and demand side."(To the press release)