(Stuttgart, Germany) – Baden-Württemberg aims to become greenhouse gas neutral by 2040. This is the goal of the state's climate law. To achieve this, "a fundamental transformation of our energy system and a far-reaching shift to innovative and emission-free technologies in all sectors are necessary," according to a statement from the Ministry of the Environment. The development and expansion of a renewable hydrogen economy will play a crucial role in this process.
The Ministry of the Environment has published strategies and concepts for a hydrogen supply concept. © Ministry of the Environment Baden-Württemberg
In December 2020, the cabinet adopted the hydrogen roadmap as the basis for the state government's activities in developing a hydrogen economy in Baden-Württemberg. The roadmap was further developed with the first progress report in 2023. The Ministry of the Environment has now published strategies and concepts for a hydrogen supply concept. The options and pathways summarized therein address parameters along the entire value chain, from production to application. They show the status of the hydrogen market ramp-up, the anticipated hydrogen demand, the development of a hydrogen network, local production, as well as international potential and hydrogen transport options.
- Demand: Prices on the demand side and investment costs in generation facilities should gradually converge. Identified demand figures serve as indicators for further developments. The state government intends to support these forecasts with studies and surveys to ensure greater planning certainty. At the federal level, demand should be regularly reviewed in the Gas and Hydrogen Network Development Plan (NEP).
- Infrastructure: A key factor is the establishment of a transport system (core network, distribution network) including storage facilities for large quantities of hydrogen. The development of the pipeline infrastructure is only possible with supportive framework conditions. The federal government should improve the financing conditions for investments by long-distance pipeline operators in the core network and consider further connections in southern Baden-Württemberg, in particular the extension of the core network along the Rhine. The development and expansion of a distribution network should be included in the network development plan. The state government is also examining hydrogen storage capacities.
- Local production: To meet the demand that arises before the commissioning of hydrogen networks or geographically outside their catchment area, the development of regional and local production capacities is crucial. These capacities must be economically viable in the medium to long term and support regional value chains. This depends primarily on capital costs, the associated infrastructure, the procurement costs for renewable electricity, and the operating hours of the electrolyzer.
- Amount: Key objectives include stable supply relationships and diversified imports. The state government supports the development of a global hydrogen market and the intensification of hydrogen partnerships. Auction models like H2Global should be further developed so that small and medium-sized enterprises can also utilize them.
The implementation and further development of the concepts and strategies is supported by the H2BW platform, which was set up at the state agency for new mobility solutions and automotive Baden-Württemberg e-mobil BW GmbH.
The "Hydrogen supply concept for Baden-Württemberg" The Ministry for Environment, Climate and Energy provides a free PDF (47 pages).
Part of the care concept is a "Facts and parameter analysis" (78 pages) of Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik GmbH (LBST) and Fraunhofer ISE.
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Baden-Württemberg is developing a roadmap for building a hydrogen economy. © State Chancellery of Baden-Württemberg
