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Hydrogen production in Bavaria
Photo: Nicolas Armer / dpa
According to plans by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Germany wants to build a hydrogen pipeline network with state participation.
According to the draft for an update of the hydrogen strategy, which was available to the Reuters news agency on Friday, at least 1,800 kilometers of lines should be built by 2027.
"A hydrogen network company with state participation is to be founded in order to present a coordinated and system-friendly development of a hydrogen network and its financial feasibility."
A concept is currently being developed and will be presented to the industry shortly.
In addition, unlike in the original draft of the strategy, it is now also possible to promote so-called blue hydrogen.
This is usually generated with natural gas and the released carbon dioxide (CO₂) is captured and stored underground (Carbon Capture and Storage – CCS).
Controversial technique
The CCS technology is controversial and cannot be used in Germany.
However, the greenhouse gas CO₂ could be stored abroad, such as in the Netherlands or Norway.
In addition, blue hydrogen could also be imported directly, according to the draft by Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens).
This also takes the government decision to double the electrolysis capacity in Germany to ten gigawatts by 2030.
In the medium term, Germany only wants to use hydrogen that has been produced using wind or solar energy without producing CO₂.
Initially, hydrogen is to be used primarily in energy-intensive industrial processes that cannot be converted to green electricity.
This applies, for example, to steel production or the chemical industry.
In order to support the economy in this transition, the government has launched so-called climate protection agreements.
beb/Reuters
