German Governmental Research Agency Gets Hydrogen Basics Wrong
PIK is supposed to be independent, rigorous and factual but instead is pushing inaccurate assertions about hydrogen for energy
In recent months I’ve apparently taken on a sideline of assessing major total cost of ownership studies from reputable organizations, specifically looking at their usually weird assumptions around hydrogen. Now it’s the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research‘s turn, although it’s not a TCO study in this case. They’ve released a meaty scenario analysis based on their institutional models and multiple scenarios, accounting for EU carbon pricing, Distinct roles of direct and indirect electrification in pathways to a renewables-dominated European energy system.
I’m pleased to say it’s better than most of the hydrogen-centric material I’ve reviewed recently, but this will be faint praise against bad company. The International Council on Clean Transportation’s trucking, maritime shipping, and aviation studies pertaining to hydrogen had completely obvious and embarrassing errors as well as many, many thumbs on the scale for hydrogen as they tried to force the square peg of the molecule into the round hole of the requirement. The German working group on freight trucking was better than that, but still had…
