With the adoption of the National Hydrogen Strategy on 10 June 2020, the German federal government instituted the National Hydrogen Council: 25 high-ranking experts from industry, science and civil society who support the State Secretary Committee for Hydrogen with proposals and recommendations for action in the implementation and further development of the hydrogen strategy.

In a first step, the National Hydrogen Council will issue a statement on the amendment of the Renewable Energy Act (EEG – Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz). The aim: to improve the framework conditions for a rapid market ramp-up of water electrolysis.

According to the statement, with its heavy impact on electricity, the existing system of taxes, charges and levies currently prevents the use of electricity for many electricity-based energy conversion technologies. This particularly applies to the production of hydrogen in electrolysis plants. In order to stimulate the onset of a rapid market ramp-up, the use of electricity in water electrolysis plants should be exempted as far as possible from the EEG levy.

Further details on the position of the National Hydrogen Council can be found in the official statement [PDF – in German].