Energy transition and climate action National Hydrogen Strategy 2023

With the National Hydrogen Strategy adopted in 2020 and its July 2023 update, the German Government aims to drive forward the use of climate-friendly hydrogen technologies and make a contribution at an early stage to the diversification of energy imports and hence to Germany’s supply security.

Hydrogen technologies are not only an important tool for mitigating climate change. They can also give rise to new branches of industry offering many sustainable jobs and major export opportunities. Many German companies, including start-ups and SMEs, are already among the international leaders in hydrogen technologies, for example in the field of electrolysers for hydrogen production and the manufacturing of fuel cells, which are used to generate electricity from hydrogen. The National Hydrogen Strategy is thus designed to help German industry maintain and further expand its strong position in hydrogen technologies.

The National Hydrogen Strategy Update pursues the following target visions for 2030:

• Accelerated market ramp-up of hydrogen and development of a hydrogen economy, including:
  – ensuring sufficient availability of hydrogen and its derivatives,
  – development of an efficient hydrogen infrastructure,
  – implementation of hydrogen applications in the sectors,
• Germany will become the lead provider of hydrogen technologies by 2030,
• Creation of appropriate frameworks.

A reliable international market ramp-up for hydrogen and its derivatives also requires ambitious and workable sustainability standards and transparency concerning the properties of traded hydrogen products.

Until sufficient green hydrogen is available, other colours of hydrogen will also be used during the transition period – primarily low-carbon hydrogen from waste or natural gas in combination with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)/Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU). The aim is to ensure, in this way, that expected demand is met, particularly in the transformation phase, and the technological transition to hydrogen is feasible. The German Government’s goal is to achieve a reliable supply of hydrogen which is green and sustainable on a long-term basis for Germany.