Germany’s Plans for Hydrogen Gas Production

Hydrogen Fuel

Hydrogen gas is identified as a green-fuel produced from water which emits zero carbon, and is already in use in some transport vehicles. Hydrogen fuel can be used as a decarbon alternative where electricity cannot be directly extracted from renewable energies. German already has a plan for replacing natural gas with hydrogen to use ‘clean fuel’ by 2030. If hydrogen fuel becomes in use in Germany, it can replace one-fourth of primary natural gas consumption of the country and support to achieve their 2030 target.

(Various uses of hydrogen. Source: cleanenergywire)

Germany and Hydrogen

Germany already produces 20 billion cubic meters of hydrogen gas and only 5% of it is considered as green hydrogen and the rest is produced from fossil fuels. The country is keen in using green hydrogen fuel by 2030 and has proposed 10 billion euro to initiate the pipeline project. The government plans for a 130km long pipeline project from Lingen to Gelsenkirchen, which will be the longest hydrogen pipeline in the world to deliver the green fuel to domestic and industrial purposes.

(Projected green hydrogen and other energy usage in German by 2050. Source: Bloomberg )

Project Plans

• At present grey hydrogen (hydrogen produced from fossil fuels like natural gas) is used for most of the industrial purposes.
• Studies project that Germany will need about 90TWh to 110TWh of hydrogen by 2030 and to meet this demand hydrogen fuel needs to be produced across Europe along with domestic production.
• To support Europe’s energy and environmental policies, green hydrogen is a considerable alternative and the green fuel will be supplied from North Sea to Central Germany using the existing gas pipelines of 1,100 km long.
• The 660m euro ‘H2 Startnetz’ pipeline will connect North Rhine Westphalia and Lower Saxony states for 31green gas projects in northern Germany.
• The government plans for a 1,200 km long pipeline to transport the fuel. Existing 1,100km pipeline will be used for the same and the rest of the 100km pipeline will be built in the next few years.
• The plan is to build 5GW plants by 2030 and from 2035- 2040, the next 10GW will be built.

(Objectives of German’s Hydrogen production. Source: Now Gmbh)

Why does Germany Need a Hydrogen Gas Project?

• Environmental policy of German is to cut out carbon emission fuels and use hydrogen instead which emits zero carbon.
• To be the pioneer of the hydrogen production and supply market in the world.
• Strengthen Germany’s economy and create a strong international relationship for its companies and be the global competitors.
• Easy storage is hydrogen’s advantage over other renewable energies. When it can be easily stored, the investment and maintenance cost would be comparatively lesser than natural gas.
• International trade of energy can be reduced drastically when the German becomes a “home market” of hydrogen production.