The Council has developed five packages of measures for an ambitious ramp-up of the hydrogen economy, panel of experts sees hydrogen as key to security of supply and climate neutrality
The German government presented the National Hydrogen Strategy in June 2020. A lot has changed since then: stricter climate targets, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and higher energy prices. In order to adapt the National Hydrogen Strategy to the changed framework conditions, the National Hydrogen Council has drafted a new key issues paper. Five bundles of measures are designed to help accelerate the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy.
“We sincerely welcome the fact that the federal government intends to continue ambitiously pursuing the existing strategy. This is an important sign for the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy in Germany and Europe, which has become even more crucial and urgent in recent times. As an industrial nation, our goal must be to create options for the decarbonisation of all sectors of the economy,” said Katherina Reiche, Chair of the National Hydrogen Council. “Hydrogen is our key to preserving jobs and ensuring security of supply, especially in the current geopolitical situation. It is only logical to now also review and refine the National Hydrogen Strategy. Essential points are still valid. Beyond that, however, even more far-reaching answers must now be found. In this context, waiting is not an option – we must act quickly.”
In its key issues paper, the National Hydrogen Council describes five bundles of measures which, in its view, must be implemented in a targeted manner with a high priority and in a very timely manner:
- Creation of a certification and trading system to establish a liquid hydrogen market
- Rapid development and expansion of the hydrogen infrastructure
- Rapid ramp-up of the availability of climate-neutral hydrogen and its derivatives through domestic production and especially through early imports from other European and non-European countries
- Creation of a coherent (funding) framework for the development of sales markets for hydrogen
- Research and development for achieving a sustainable hydrogen evolution, with a focus on the realisation of large-scale and holistic demonstration projects.
The National Hydrogen Council, consisting of 25 experts from industry, science and civil society, has submitted the document to the German government. The ministries involved will now examine the key points in detail and consider taking these issues on board in the strategy.
The document can be downloaded (in German) here: Key issues paper for updating the National Hydrogen Strategy (Eckpunktepapier zur Überarbeitung der NWS).
The National Hydrogen Council (NWR – Der Nationale Wasserstoffrat)
With the adoption of the National Hydrogen Strategy, the German government established the National Hydrogen Council on 10 June 2020. The Council consists of 25 high-level experts from business, science and civil society who are not part of the public administration. The members of the Hydrogen Council have expertise in the areas of production, research and innovation, decarbonisation of industry, transport and building/heating, infrastructure, international partnerships, as well as climate and sustainability. The National Hydrogen Council is chaired by Katherina Reiche, CEO of Westenergie AG and former Parliamentary State Secretary. The task of the National Hydrogen Council is to advise and support the State Secretary’s Committee for Hydrogen (Staatssekretärsausschuss für Wasserstoff) with proposals and recommendations for action in the implementation and further development of the Hydrogen Strategy.