Germany Outlines Strategy for Utilizing Hydrogen in Heating and Transportation - News Article - Updated CEW Strategy
The German government's updated hydrogen strategy, set to be approved by the cabinet this month, is facing controversy over the role and priority of hydrogen for road transport and heating. The strategy, as reported by media on July 14, 2023, includes plans for hydrogen use in these sectors, but the debate centers on which hydrogen production methods and applications should be prioritized.
In the transport sector, the German transport minister supports e-fuels and battery-electric vehicles over hydrogen fuel cells for passenger cars. While hydrogen fuel cell trucks are more broadly accepted for heavy goods transport, there is dispute over whether hydrogen should be prioritized for passenger vehicles or replaced by electric alternatives.
The use of hydrogen in heating, such as for residential or commercial heating, is also debated. Germany favors power-to-heat technologies like heat pumps and sector coupling that use electricity more directly for decarbonization. Hydrogen-based heating faces questions about economic and technical viability, especially compared to established electrification routes.
The controversy also revolves around the preference for green hydrogen — hydrogen produced from renewable electricity — over blue hydrogen, which is produced from natural gas with carbon capture and storage. The government's increasing emphasis on green hydrogen is due to its climate benefits, but there are policy disputes over the extent to which blue hydrogen and CCS infrastructure should be used or expanded within Germany.
Criticism has been levied at a quasi-freeze or slow ramp-up in hydrogen funding, conflicting political positions within German economic and energy sectors, and uncertainties about regulatory frameworks. Funding and promotion of e-fuels versus hydrogen confuse industry strategy, and some policies risk undermining hydrogen scale-up efforts.
Additionally, concerns exist around the economic and environmental effects of hydrogen import pathways and the impacts on domestic industries. Germany aims to import significant quantities of hydrogen, focusing on compliance with climate protection, but controversies persist.
The Free Democrats (FDP), being part of the transport ministry, are driving the push for a broader use of hydrogen in Germany's updated hydrogen strategy. The FDP advocates for a broad use of hydrogen in heating and transport, not only in hydrogen fuel cells, but also as synthetic fuels. The government plans an initial pipeline grid spanning 1,800 kilometres by 2027-2028.
The FDP's push for broader hydrogen use in road transport is seen by some as favoring the fossil fuel industry. The FDP caused a Europe-wide outcry earlier this year by blocking a phaseout of combustion engines and insisting on exceptions for e-fuels. The Greens-led economy and climate ministry wanted to limit the use of green hydrogen to industry, aviation, shipping, heavy-duty transport, and for operating back-up power plants.
In response to these controversies, the government has raised the 2030 target for domestic electrolyser capacity for making climate-neutral "green hydrogen" to "at least" 10 GW from an earlier 5 GW. The strategy, first published in 2020, aims to establish a hydrogen economy as central for reaching national climate targets.
These debates reflect broader tensions in balancing innovative energy carriers with existing decarbonization technologies and economic realities. As the updated hydrogen strategy is approved and implemented, it will be crucial to find a balance that supports Germany's climate goals while ensuring a sustainable and economically viable energy transition.
[1] Handelsblatt [2] Tagesspiegel [3] Der Spiegel [4] FAZ [5] Süddeutsche Zeitung
- The German government's focus on green hydrogen production in their updated hydrogen strategy is a testament to the importance of environmental-science and technology within the strategy.
- The controversy surrounding the hydrogen economy also includes discussions about the role of hydrogen fuel cells, particularly in road transportation and heating, which are crucial areas of study in both the science and technology fields.
- Despite the controversies, the FDP's push for broader use of hydrogen, including hydrogen fuel cells and synthetic fuels, in Germany's updated strategy underscores the importance of science, technology, and innovative energy carriers in facilitating a sustainable and economically viable energy transition.
