The new federal government, comprised of the SPD, Die Grünen, and FDP, has outlined a slew of measures to combat climate change in its coalition agreement.
Gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide help to protect the environment in a variety of ways. Hydrogen generated from renewable energy is critical to the energy transition. In light of this, Messer is optimistic about many aspects of the coalition agreement.
Air separation and electrolysis require electricity. The coalition agreement’s accelerated expansion of renewable energies is a positive sign in this regard. This is especially true for long-term electricity supply agreements (PPAs) and the expansion of Europe-wide trading in origin guarantees in the interest of climate protection. The planned expansion of renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics and wind power is also welcomed. The goal of using renewable electricity for sector coupling rather than shutting down plants due to grid bottlenecks, as well as the announcement that the CO2 price will play a key role, makes green hydrogen even more appealing in Messer’s opinion: it is ideal for storing renewable energy and decarbonizing processes in industry and mobility.
Messer has suitable solutions in its range, particularly in the field of mobility, where the new German government is aiming for a CO2 differentiation of the truck toll and wants to ensure that new buses are climate-neutral in the near future: on the one hand, these are comprehensive services and high-performance technology for the efficient and safe refueling of hydrogen-powered vehicles. Second, Messer, in collaboration with the Toyota Group, provides a “One-Stop-Shop.” It includes hydrogen supply and refueling, buses, technical support, and financing. Operators of bus fleets are paid per kilometer driven or per kilogram of hydrogen consumed.
The coalition partners’ intention to raise the ambition of green hydrogen by 2030 also holds promise, including the introduction of quotas for public procurement of hydrogen. Electrolysis capacity, for example, is to be increased to 10 gigatonnes by 2030 for a rapid ramp-up and low-cost supply of green hydrogen. Messer believes that uniform hydrogen certification, the strengthening of European import partnerships, and the continued development and funding of programs such as H2global in Europe are critical prerequisites for the successful continued development of hydrogen as a climate-friendly energy carrier.
Messer is also pleased with the announcement that innovation promotion and financing will be strengthened and made less bureaucratic. Real laboratories will benefit from the creation of innovative framework conditions. This would also benefit the EnBW Group’s power-to-gas plant in Grenzach-Wyhlen, Baden-Württemberg. Messer is developing green hydrogen marketing models as one of the project partners in this Real-World laboratory, where green hydrogen is produced and stored using hydropower.
