is ambitious: by 2050, Germany should be “climate neutral”. To achieve this, it is not sufficient to replace coal power by wind turbines and solar plants, or to bring more E-cars on the market. Experts agree: If we want to achieve our climate goals, it’s not without hydrogen as an energy carrier.
Germany is, therefore, a pioneer in the use of hydrogen as a climate-friendly energy sources. The Federal government wants to make the German economy in this field, even the “outfitter of the world”. So anyway, it says in the key issues paper for the economic stimulus package, in which the black-red coalition has now agreed a good half a year late on a hydrogen strategy. It envisages that by the year 2030 in Germany, generating plants of up to five gigawatts of total performance. “Prospects” in FOCUS Online
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debate on the non-green hydrogen
hydrogen is flared is generated, for example, by the electrolysis of water is split into hydrogen and oxygen. This, however, must be first used any amount of energy, i.e. electricity. For a long time it was debated, what role should not play green hydrogen in the bundle of measures.
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Because depending on what hydrogen is produced and where the electricity comes from, there are different names: Green hydrogen is produced with renewable energy from water, and is the darling of the environmentalists, because it is CO2-free. There are also still a grey-hydrogen. It is produced from fossil fuels, such as natural gas. In the production of one ton of hydrogen is around 10 tonnes of CO2 – caused not a good Deal for the climate.
As the blue water is referred to substance, if the CO2 is stored, and therefore not in the atmosphere. The methods are controversial. Turquoise, hydrogen is produced via the thermal cracking of methane. Instead of CO2 fixed carbon is created. Conditions for the CO2-neutrality of the method, the heat supply of the high-temperature reactor from renewable energy sources, and the permanent binding of carbon are.
Green power must be more strengthened
In the strategy paper, the government, after much wrangling, agreement has been reached, it is said to the production of hydrogen is now: That only the green hydrogen “in the long term was not sustainable” – but on the global and European market, also blue or turquoise water substance acted, the play, therefore also in Germany “has a role, and, if available, also on a transitional basis” will be used.
Not only environmentalists complain that the package of measures for the hydrogen, to make our future greener, the basic requirements, such as the Expansion of renewable energies to be observed. “We have set ourselves with the Green Deal at the European level, ambitious climate goals. To achieve this, it must be taken into account in addition to the Expansion of hydrogen production in Germany, also the additional demand for green electricity. This issue, the Federal government has, in its strategy, however, not sufficient,“ says Thilo Schaefer, head of the Compared to the environment, energy, infrastructure at the Institute of German economy Cologne (IW Köln) in an interview with FOCUS Online.
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the Clearer it is, the Federal government, however, in its hydrogen strategy, when it comes to the market sectors in which the energy from hydrogen is to be used: mainly the steel, chemical and cement industry also needs him to their high CO2 emissions to the press. But also “parts of the heat market” the government “in view” as it is called in the bundle of measures. And when it comes to climate protection-worry-child transport, the Decarbonisation of carbon – neutral synthetic fuels, both in air and in Maritime transport “necessary”.
Africa. in the case of hydrogen production Partner
the Federal environment Minister, Svenja Schulze (SPD) in any case it is certain that the national hydrogen strategy in Germany, will give a “dual thrust” – for climate protection and the sustainable recovery of the economy after the Corona-crisis
this, to promote the Federal government’s hydrogen strategy initially, with a further seven billion euros, which are intended for the market run-up of hydrogen technologies. Two billion euros are earmarked for international partnerships. Because it is in the longer term, used so much hydrogen, that Germany can not produce alone.
development Minister Gerd Müller (CSU) therefore relies on a cooperation with North Africa. He stressed that there are suitable sites for the Production of green water be the substance, since there the sun seems to be almost unlimited. Together with Morocco, Germany, to develop the first industrial plant for green hydrogen in Africa.
Green hydrogen is not yet economically
represents not only the question of quantity, but also of the costs, with a view to the new strategy. Schaefer by the IW makes it clear: “on a CO2-free hydrogen is not economical – this must change in the long term.” A couple of approaches to change that were included in the hydrogen strategy. So the green energy sources should be exempt such from the EEG levy and the production will be sponsored by tender. “But make no mistake about it, green hydrogen will remain more expensive than fossil fuels,” says Schaefer more.
“It is not enough if we are to promote hydrogen only in Germany, it is an international strategy needs to be developed. Only then, hydrogen can be an Alternative, and in the amounts available to where it is needed,“ he says.
However, Schaefer holds the hydrogen strategy for a real Signal. She was generally positive, however, would be only a first step. “It is to be hoped that the hydrogen strategy in Germany climate protection and the economy strengthens. A positive I see is that the strategy for the company means first more planning security when you are faced with the decision whether to rely on hydrogen.“
energy sector: “for a Long-awaited Basis for the further success”
In the energy sector, the plans, meanwhile, to come good. Andreas Kuhlmann, Chairman of the management Board of the German energy Agency said: “The National hydrogen strategy objectives, the long-awaited Basis for the further success of the energy turnaround, and also for the long-term accessibility of the climate. It marked a real change in the current energy and climate policy and is, therefore, a conclusive result of the discussions of the past few years.“
the face of the ambitious targets needed to start the implementation according to Kuhlmann now, immediately after the adoption of the strategy. The race to the top in the world in the production of hydrogen is already opened for a long time. The world is better than your bad news – FOCUS Online provides you every Friday with the best stories from the field perspectives. Subscribe here for free Newsletter:
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