Federal government relies heavily on hydrogen imports
The Federal Cabinet adopted its hydrogen import strategy on a Wednesday. The aim is to send a "clear signal to our foreign partners" stated Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Robert Habeck (Greens): "Germany expects a large and stable domestic demand for hydrogen and derivatives and is a reliable partner and market for hydrogen products." The partner countries will be motivated to ramp up their production.
According to the ministry, the Federal Government is working with "a multitude of partner countries, regions, and actors" to diversify the supply sources as much as possible. Plans include pipelines for imports from European and adjacent regions. Hydrogen derivatives could be shipped from more distant countries.
Hydrogen will be used in harmony with climate targets in areas where renewable energies cannot be directly used, such as energy-intensive industrial sectors like steel production. Additionally, hydrogen will be used as a gas substitute in power plants for power generation to support grid stability.
The Federal Government emphasized in the import strategy that it does not only focus on green hydrogen produced exclusively with renewable energy. "To enable the necessary rapid hydrogen ramp-up, the import strategy also includes carbon-lean hydrogen and its derivatives in the demand coverage," explained the Economic Ministry.
Robert Habeck, the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, highlighted that Germany is dependent on a large and stable domestic demand for hydrogen and its derivatives, positioning the country as a reliable partner and market for hydrogen products. The Federal Government is partnering with various countries to diversify hydrogen supply sources, with plans for pipelines for imports from Europe and adjacent regions, and potential shipments of hydrogen derivatives from more distant countries. Habeck clarified that the Federal Government's import strategy also includes carbon-lean hydrogen and its derivatives to support the rapid hydrogen ramp-up, alongside the pursuit of green hydrogen produced solely with renewable energy.
