Hydrogen filling station (archive image)
Photo: Sean Gallup / Getty Images
Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) has approved the first funding as part of the National Hydrogen Strategy (NWS).
Siemens Energy is receiving around eight million euros for a so-called Power-to-X system in the windy south of Chile.
The project called “Haru Oni” uses wind power to produce hydrogen by means of electrolysis.
This in turn is processed into synthetic fuel, which can be used to power cars, and in the future also airplanes.
In 2022, the plant should produce around 130,000 liters of these so-called e-fuels.
In 2024 it should be around 55 million liters, in 2026 it will be 550 million liters.
One of the buyers of the fuel is Porsche.
According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the project should provide initial insights into the extent to which green hydrogen and its derivatives can be marketed globally.
The plant also makes a contribution to the development of reliable import capacities for the new raw material, it said.
It is also a first step towards positioning German companies in this future international market.
The government is promoting the development of a national multi-pot hydrogen industry.
An economic stimulus package from June alone provides seven billion euros for the development of a national hydrogen market, plus two billion euros for the development of international collaborations in the field of hydrogen.
The Siemens project is "the first that we are supporting from the economic stimulus package," said Altmaier.
From 2021, companies can also apply for funding from the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
So-called green hydrogen, which is produced using green electricity, is a central component of the energy transition.
H2 technology was developed in Germany a good ten years ago, but was then long neglected by the federal government.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs presented its national hydrogen strategy for Germany in June.
According to a study by Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik GmbH, however, this is far less detailed than similar strategies in other countries.
Countries like Japan, France, South Korea, Australia, Norway and the Netherlands would have decided their strategies months or years before Germany.
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