Germany’s National Hydrogen Strategy

Strategy launched on 10 June 2020

A successful energy transition means combining security of supply, affordability and environmental compatibility with innovative and intelligent climate protection. This requires alternative options to the fossil fuels currently in use. Hydrogen will play a central role in the further development and completion of the energy system transition. After all, hydrogen is enabling a significant CO2 emissions reduction, especially in industry and transport, with the help of renewable energies. 

With the National Hydrogen Strategy, the Federal Government of Germany is creating a coherent framework for future production, transport, and further use of hydrogen and thus for corresponding innovations and investments. It defines the steps that are necessary to help achieve the climate targets, create new value chains for the German economy and further develop international energy policy cooperation. 

With this background, the National Hydrogen Strategy pursues the following goals in particular:

• Establish hydrogen technologies as core elements of the energy transition in order to decarbonise production processes with the help of renewable energies 
• Create the regulatory conditions for the market ramp-up of hydrogen technologies 
• Strengthen German companies and their competitiveness by promoting research and development and the export of technology related to innovative hydrogen technologies 
• Securing and shaping the future national supply of CO2-free hydrogen and its derivatives 

To achieve these goals, 7 billion EUR will be made available for the market ramp-up of green hydrogen and another 2 billion EUR to foster international partnerships. By 2030, a production capacity of five gigawatts (GW) is to be achieved, which is to increase by a further 5 GW by 2035, 2040 at the latest. The Strategy includes 38 measures to start the ramp-up until 2023 and to strengthen it by 2030. One of these measures is the aim to exempt the green hydrogen production from the EEG levy, which makes future economic viability much more likely. 

The 38 different actions cover hydrogen production, transport, industry, heat, infrastructure, R&D, European, but also international partnerships. 

If you want to learn more about the National Hydrogen Strategy of Germany or the 38 different measures, please contact: 

Max Schnarr, Consultant – Projects 

T: +61 (0)2 8296 0456  
E: max.schnarr(at)germany.org.au