In the atmosphere, it takes around twelve years for methane to break down into its constituents. However, at times like these, politics takes precedence over chemistry: things are now moving quickly, and the European supply of natural gas as an energy source is exhibiting signs of disintegration.
Germany had hoped to start operating a second gas pipeline from Russia until recently. Nord Stream 2 has been halted, and the Zug-based corporation in charge is risking insolvency. Half of Europe is seeking for alternatives to break free from Russia’s hegemony.
At the same time, US President Donald Trump would not rule out more penalties against Russia’s gas and oil industries. Perhaps the market will outperform him. Russian energy businesses are having a harder time selling their raw commodities. In the right circumstances, no one wants to burn their fingers, therefore the term “self-sanctioning” is being bandied about.
Climate change has turned into a geopolitical issue
The hour of renewable energies is ringing in the search for greater energy supply independence. Roger Nordmann, the head of the SP parliamentary group, barely lost his bid to seek half a billion Swiss francs from the federal government in the National Council on Thursday. He asked for a seven-year disarmament campaign for gas heaters in Swiss homes under the Glacier Initiative. Only the SVP’s return request, backed up by the FDP and the center, stopped the maneuver.
Geopolitics is at the center of a debate that has shifted dramatically in recent weeks. Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga gave two news conferences in a short space of time. She outlined initiatives to facilitate the energy transition while also preventing power outages, particularly during the winter months. She mentioned the sun, wind, water, and more lately, gas. Another energy transporter, hydrogen, had just a minor part. The federal government appears uninterested in pursuing H 2’s potential in the immediate future. Urban energy plants and elements of the industry, on the other hand, are the polar opposite.
Limmat Valley pioneering project
From Bern to Dietikon: In the Limmat Valley, the Limeco regional plant is now constructing the world’s largest power-to-gas plant. The electrolyzer has recently arrived. Water will be divided into its constituents, oxygen, and hydrogen, using power generated by the waste incineration facility. This produces gas, which may then be turned into power. To put it another way, a battery. Such storage devices, according to Jan Flückiger, Secretary-General of the Conference of Energy Directors, are the “missing piece of the puzzle” in decarbonization.
The project has also been examined by Sommaruga. It stopped in Dietikon on its energy tour a little over a year ago. She applauded the invention and stated that renewable energy is the way of the future. The federal government is working on a hydrogen plan as well. This publication possesses top-secret papers that reveal where the journey may go. According to the report, hydrogen will “play a key role” in reaching the climate targets. As a result, the Swiss Federal Office of Energy is developing a “Hydrogen Roadmap 2050,” which will outline the sectors where hydrogen makes sense.
Onboard are more than a half-dozen federal and private representatives. It is clearly evident that hydrogen will not be given much weight in the federal government’s energy policy in the near future. The “Roadmap’s” “Sounding Board” is still primarily focused on the fundamentals. A similar strategy was presented by the EU nearly precisely three years ago. Depending on the scenario, hydrogen might account for a quarter of global energy demand by 2050, compared to 3% currently.
“This isn’t a long-term solution”
The federal government sees possibilities as well, particularly in logistics: “Hydrogen will primarily be employed in long-distance, heavy-duty, air and ship travel as well as in industry (process heat) in Switzerland,” according to a thesis paper. However, because of the energy loss, it is only viable as a storage facility to a limited level, and it is “not a long-term choice” for heating.
The cities of Switzerland, on the other hand, have a distinct perspective. Many of them have their own energy plants, which have banded together to establish the “Swisspower” association. “We are certain that renewable, CO2-neutral gases like green hydrogen, biogas, and synthetic methane will play an important part in Switzerland’s energy supply in the future,” says spokesman Philipp Mäder. In the summer, there is a surplus of power generated by photovoltaics that must be stored. “For a long time, we’ve been waiting for the Federal Council’s statement on the Gas Supply Act, in which the Federal Council intends to propose its proposals for decarbonizing Switzerland’s gas supply,” Mäder adds.
Cities with a red-green hue and a taste for gas
The reason for this is due to the urban supply architecture: cities rely heavily on gas. Natural gas is used to heat the entire old town of Bern. It is thought that by switching to “green” gas such as hydrogen, the infrastructure may be taken over with very minor changes. With renewable-energy-based electrification, things would be different. The bill would be higher in price.
Meanwhile, the industry is particularly interested in the still-underutilized energy source. Filling stations for hydrogen are gradually appearing all over the place. Coop and Avia, for example, have set a target of building a countrywide network in Switzerland by 2023. Logistics takes advantage of a benefit: the green fuel eliminates the mineral oil tax. In this segment, hydrogen, which is still seldom employed, is also becoming competitive.
Is hydrogen merely a “hype”?
If you ask around in the energy industry, you’ll learn that the Swiss economy isn’t far behind other nations in terms of hydrogen utilization. The state, on the other hand, is unsupportive. On request, Marianne Zünd, spokesperson for the Federal Office of Energy, said, “There is a hydrogen hype.” For the time being, however, it is critical to do thorough research and reach the appropriate conclusions for Switzerland as a whole. “By spring 2023, a federal hydrogen plan should be prepared,” Zünd said.
