Germany is at a decisive crossroads: Only hydrogen can enable a climate-neutral industry. The new business alliance Hydrogen Germany, a coalition of leading companies across the hydrogen value chain, is calling on the German government to take swift action to support the market ramp-up. Germany can only become a hydrogen nation with clear political framework conditions, fast permitting processes, and reliable financing models.
“Germany, Land of Hydrogen” – under this motto, the newly established business alliance Hydrogen Germany introduced itself at this year’s Hannover Messe. Hydrogen Germany is a coalition of leading companies spanning the entire hydrogen value chain. Its goal is to establish Germany as a hydrogen nation – safeguarding industrial jobs, energy supply security, and technological leadership. “Together, we are making Germany a hydrogen nation – because hydrogen is the key to a competitive economy, a successful transformation, and a secure energy supply,” emphasized representatives of Hydrogen Germany during the joint press conference.
However, the success of the hydrogen economy heavily depends on political decisions – and this is exactly where the alliance sees an urgent need for action.
“Germany is at a decisive point: The transformation to climate neutrality and the safeguarding of industrial competitiveness must be considered together. Hydrogen is not an optional component – it is a necessity. For the hydrogen ramp-up to succeed, we need clear framework conditions,” emphasizes Susanne Thöle, Director Hydrogen at Uniper.
Hydrogen Germany is therefore making a clear appeal to the federal government: The ramp-up of the hydrogen economy must also be actively supported by political decision-makers! “We need to trust in more pragmatism instead of perfectionism: The hydrogen ramp-up in Germany and Europe stands or falls with regulation. We must move faster and implement more easily – together with the new federal government and the European Commission,” demands Dr. Hans Dieter Hermes, EVP Hydrogen & Clean Energies at SEFE.
“This includes correcting misguided regulation and adapting it pragmatically, particularly regarding the requirements for renewable and low-carbon hydrogen. The market needs room to grow, otherwise we will lose ground in global competition. Overly complex regulation must not lead to a lack of investment, imports, and ultimately transformation – we cannot afford that in the current geopolitical and climate policy situation.”
Dr. Thomas Hüwener, Spokesman of the Management Board at OGE, adds: “The ramp-up of the hydrogen economy is only just beginning, but it’s gaining momentum. With the hydrogen core grid, we are creating the key infrastructure that connects producers, storage facilities, and consumers – from the North Sea to the Ruhr region and beyond. In the coming years, our pipelines will link additional hydrogen projects across national borders to open up new import corridors and help fill the hydrogen core grid. Our goal is clear: to establish a secure, scalable, and climate-friendly hydrogen supply for Germany and Europe. The excavators are running – we’re getting started!”
“Germany has the engineering excellence, industrial strength, and political momentum to decisively drive the hydrogen ramp-up now,” concludes Dr. Hans Dieter Hermes. “But for that, we need clear legal framework conditions to safeguard investments and enable economies of scale.”
Hydrogen as the key to a resilient industry
Whether in chemicals, glass, or mobility – numerous industrial processes depend on molecules. Hydrogen enables the decarbonization of these sectors and strengthens the competitiveness of Germany as an industrial hub. Companies are already embracing innovative hydrogen technologies and are preparing their production processes for a hydrogen-based future.
For hydrogen to become the backbone of a climate-neutral industry, investment is now needed in production, infrastructure, and import partnerships. Hydrogen Germany is committed to ensuring that politics, business, and society walk this path together.
“Hydrogen is significant for the energy transition and a climate-neutral economy in the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region. On the one hand, it is a natural partner to volatile renewable energies – transportable and storable. On the other hand, it can be used in modern H2-ready power plants, such as our showcase plant currently under construction in Frankfurt, to generate heat and electricity. To achieve this, we need to lay the groundwork today for the hydrogen economy of tomorrow. Municipal energy utilities play a decisive role in this – because we need our distribution grids for the last mile and for supplying customers,” emphasizes Martin Giehl, CTO of Mainova AG.
An alliance for a rapid market ramp-up
Hydrogen Germany unites leading companies along the entire value chain to actively shape the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy in Germany. “With Hydrogen Germany, we are combining the forces of important hydrogen players in Germany and sending a clear signal: Germany is becoming the land of hydrogen. Our industry needs reliable access to hydrogen in order to produce in a climate-neutral way and secure jobs. At Uniper, we are contributing our many years of experience in the gas industry and see hydrogen as an essential part of a long-term transformation pathway,” explains Susanne Thöle, Director Hydrogen at Uniper.
Hydrogen Germany brings together major actors from the hydrogen sector – including SEFE, Uniper, OGE, ONTRAS, VNG, Energie Schwaben, Energie Südbayern, GASAG, GASCADE, Rh2ein Main Connect, and Stadtwerke Neuss.
Photo of Hydrogen Germany
Press release https://tinyurl.com/47pkc9ad
