According to industrial firms, Germany will be unable to build up its hydrogen sector without the usage of natural gas at first.
“We need hydrogen from natural gas for rapid market development as long as hydrogen from renewable energies is not available in sufficient quantities and at attractive prices,” said Mario Mehren, CEO of the Wintershall gas company, at a conference of the Electricity and Gas Lobby Association in Berlin on Wednesday.
The term “gray hydrogen” refers to hydrogen derived from natural gas. CO 2 is produced throughout the manufacturing process.
Hydrogen is critical to the energy transition and the achievement of climate protection objectives. It may be used to replace coal in processes in the steel industry, for example, as well as in the chemical and transportation industries. The German federal government intends to invest billions in the market’s growth. To safeguard the environment, hydrogen should be created using green power, making it “green.” Natural gas can also be utilized if the capabilities are initially insufficient. Environmentalists, on the other hand, are critical of this. Natural gas produces less CO2 than coal, but it still produces about half as much.
At the conference, Siemens Energy CEO Christian Bruch remarked, “I would find it disastrous if gas did not acquire the responsibility to serve as a bridge.” Gas turbines, such as those manufactured by his firm, would last for decades. The framework should be more clearly stated. “We must be prepared to make changes. This is critical for the incoming federal administration. We want finance as well as a new market structure “On the forthcoming German legislative election, Bruch stated.
Meanwhile, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s largest state, is bolstering its claim to be the world’s leading hydrogen producer. Green hydrogen’s main provider in the United States is moving into Europe. North Rhine-Westphalia should be the headquarters. “The expansion to Europe is a result of Plug’s growing client base overseas and the increasing need for green hydrogen energy,” said business CEO Andy Marsh following a meeting in Washington with Andreas Pinkwart, North Rhine-Minister Westphalia’s of Economic Affairs. Plug’s European offices are part of the company’s plan to rapidly grow its staff in response to rising demand for sustainable energy solutions. By 2025, the business wants to be able to create more than 500 tons of green hydrogen per day.
