Domestic hydrogen production will only have a minor impact on Germany's total energy consumption by 2030. This is what the federal government assumes in its answer to a minor question from the FDP parliamentary group published at the end of last week (printed matter 19/20916; 19/20351). Hydrogen consumption currently amounts to 50 to 60 terawatt hours (TWh) per year. The demand exists mainly for material manufacturing processes in the industrial sector and is evenly distributed between basic chemistry (such as the production of ammonia and methanol) and petrochemistry (production of conventional fuels). The majority of the hydrogen used is currently “gray” hydrogen. By 2030, the demand for hydrogen is expected to increase to 90 to 110 TWh, particularly in the steel sector and in the transport sector.
The electricity required for electrolysis does not necessarily have to be generated exclusively from wind power; what is crucial is that “the energy comes from renewable sources”. For the federal government, using electricity from nuclear energy to produce hydrogen is “fundamentally not an option”. With regard to the European electricity interconnections, however, “it cannot be completely ruled out that such electricity from abroad flows into the domestic production of hydrogen”.
The production costs of hydrogen should in principle be “covered by the consuming sector,” it goes on to say, but this does not exclude supporting measures: “Furthermore, the economic viability of green hydrogen can be improved through funding measures.” Hydrogen producers should be covered “as quickly as possible.” EEG levy can be exempted, but without increasing the levy for the general public.
The water industry associations assume that around 70 TWh of water of around 19 million cubic meters per year are required for the production of hydrogen in Germany. Around 14 million cubic meters are assumed for 3,8 TWh. This corresponds to the water requirements of a city with 80.000 inhabitants. “Future water needs must be taken into account when setting up new commercial and industrial settlements in order to avoid regional bottlenecks in supply,” says the answer.
On June 10, 2020, the federal government decided on the National Hydrogen Strategy (NWS), which was originally announced for 2019. Central questions are currently in the elaboration phase, so it is not yet possible to make a statement about the amount of funds deposited, how they will be distributed among existing or new measures or about the specific budget titles. In the second supplementary budget, 200 million euros in cash and 800 million euros in commitment appropriations were planned for the implementation of the strategy for the coming years.
Deep link:
https://www.bundestag.de/hib#url=L3ByZXNzZS9oaWIvNzA3MDE0LTcwNzAxNA==&mod=mod454590
https://dip21.bundestag.de/dip21/btd/19/209/1920916.pdf
Photos:
(Reichstag) Only hydrogen obtained from renewable energies is “green,” declared the federal government in response to a small question from the FDP / © German Bundestag
