(Berlin) - The new federal government is in place - and presented the coalition agreement between the SPD, Alliance90/The Greens and the FDP on Wednesday afternoon. The 178-page agreement also provides for initiatives regarding hydrogen, which are presumably to be implemented in the new super-ministry “Climate and Economy” led by the Greens. “After the corona pandemic, Germany’s economy needs a new beginning. To achieve this, the public sector must provide impetus and create fair framework conditions nationally and in the European internal market,” it says under the title “Economy”. 
They want “more innovation, more competitiveness, more efficiency, good work and climate-neutral prosperity. For this we need a decade of investment in the future and more speed.”
This also includes placing greater focus on hydrogen as an energy source. Industry has a central role to play in the transformation of the economy with a view to climate protection and digitalization. “We will strengthen the innovation, investment and competitiveness of the industry in order to remain a high-tech country.” The coalition wants to work for the establishment of a European Union for green hydrogen and the IPCEI (“Important Projects of Common European Interest”) for Implement hydrogen quickly and financially support investments in the development of a hydrogen network infrastructure.
Revise national hydrogen strategy
In addition, according to the new government partners, they want to “become the lead market for hydrogen technologies by 2030 and to develop an ambitious update of the national hydrogen strategy.” In addition to expanding the infrastructure, the targets for electrolysis performance would be “significantly increased,” European and international climate and energy partnerships for climate-neutral hydrogen and its derivatives would be advanced, and quotas for green hydrogen would be introduced in public procurement in order to create lead markets. “We are promoting the production of green hydrogen in Germany.” In the interest of a rapid market ramp-up, future-proof technologies will be promoted even if the availability of green hydrogen is not yet sufficiently ensured, the paper says. “We don’t want to limit the use of hydrogen to certain areas of application. Green hydrogen should be used primarily in those economic sectors in which it is not possible to convert procedures and processes to greenhouse gas neutrality through direct electrification.”
Hydrogen is also mentioned under the heading “Start-up, start-up and innovation support”. Accordingly, simplified access for start-ups and young companies to public contracts should be created, as well as the requirements for nationwide “one-stop shops”, i.e. contact points for start-up advice, support and registration. The state development bank KfW should act more as an innovation and investment agency and as a co-venture capital provider - especially for hydrogen projects.
Infrastructure for gas and hydrogen
An energy infrastructure for renewable electricity and hydrogen is “a prerequisite for European action and competitiveness” in the 21st century. “We are accelerating the massive expansion of renewable energies and the construction of modern gas power plants in order to cover the increasing demand for electricity and energy over the next few years at competitive prices.” The gas power plants necessary to ensure security of supply through renewable energies would have to be built in such a way that they could be switched to climate-neutral gases (H2-ready). “Natural gas is essential for a transition period.”
Hydrogen strategy will be continued
The national hydrogen strategy will be updated in 2022. The goal is a quick market ramp-up. The first priority is domestic production based on renewable energies. To ensure a rapid ramp-up and a cheap supply of green hydrogen, the hydrogen regulatory system is designed to be open to technology.
“We want to advance the development of an efficient hydrogen economy and the necessary import and transport infrastructure as quickly as possible.” The electrolysis capacity of around ten gigawatts is expected to be reached in 2030. This also requires the expansion of offshore wind energy as well as European and international energy partnerships, as well as a committed development of the necessary infrastructure. “We will create the necessary framework conditions for this, including efficiently designed funding programs and, in particular, strengthen European cooperation in this area.”
Certification of hydrogen required in Europe
When importing hydrogen, the climate policy impacts would be taken into account and “fair competitive conditions for our economy” would be ensured. What is needed at the European level is a uniform certification of hydrogen and its derivative products as well as the strengthening of European import partnerships. “We will quickly implement the IPCEI hydrogen together with the federal states and promote investments in the development of a hydrogen infrastructure.”
Programs like H2Global would be further developed at European level and provided with appropriate funding. As part of the immediate climate protection program, the planning and approval procedures would be accelerated for faster implementation of electricity and hydrogen networks. A European digital infrastructure, a common railway network, an energy infrastructure for renewable electricity and hydrogen as well as research and development at a world-class level “are prerequisites for European ability to act and competitiveness”.
Bilateral and regional relations
In order to further support Ukraine in restoring full territorial sovereignty, the new federal government is aiming to deepen the energy partnership with the country, “with strong ambitions in the areas of renewable energy, green hydrogen production, energy efficiency and CO2 reduction.” We will also work more closely with Russia on future topics such as hydrogen.
Promote more renewable energies
In order to produce more green hydrogen in Germany, the resources for the production of green electricity must also be significantly expanded. For example, the coalition agreement envisages expanding photovoltaics from the current level of just under 60 gigawatts to around 2030 gigawatts (GW) by 200. Compensation rates must also be adjusted accordingly and “all hurdles and obstacles to the expansion of renewable energies” must be removed.
Two percent of the country's land area should be designated for onshore wind energy. Offshore wind energy capacity will be increased to at least 30 GW in 2030, 40 GW in 2035 and 70 GW in 2045. The participation of local and neighboring communities in the value creation of open-space photovoltaic and onshore wind power systems should be extended to existing systems and made mandatory for new systems. “We are examining financial instruments to increase acceptance in municipalities affected by the expansion of the transmission network.”
deep link
https://www.spd.de/fileadmin/Dokumente/Koalitionsvertrag/Koalitionsvertrag_2021-2025.pdf
Photos
Setting up the Christmas tree in front of the Reichstag: The new government could start work before the festival. © German Bundestag / Henning Schacht
