Over 200 energy and climate organisations have sounded an alarm to German municipalities, cautioning them against succumbing to gas industry pressure to incorporate hydrogen into their compulsory local blueprints for transitioning to climate-neutral heating.
In an [open letter](https://umweltinstitut.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Offener-Brief_Kostenfalle-Wasserstoff_05.pdf) sent to the mayors of over 10,000 municipalities, the authors voice their concerns on hydrogen. They point out its inefficiency, probable scarcity, and extensively high costs in the mid and long-term, rendering it impractical for inclusion in heating plans. They contend that the use of hydrogen could result in higher costs for the municipalities and their residents. Furthermore, they assert that incorporating hydrogen in heat planning could endanger the national climate objectives. The letter references a [meta-review of studies](https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-sustainability/pdf/S2949-7906(23)00010-1.pdf) which indicates that hydrogen is an inappropriate candidate for heating due to its four to six times higher energy requirements than much more efficient heat pumps.
In the previous year, the German government controversially approved a strategy for the phasing out of fossil fuel heating. The plan [mandates municipalities to propose a blueprint](https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/german-government-weakens-renewables-targets-municipal-heating-plans) for transforming to climate-neutral heating. This can involve augmenting district heating. Larger cities have until 2026 to avail these plans, while smaller towns are given the deadline of 2028. In the interim, in existing structures and new buildings outside of new development zones, new oil and gas heating installations can persist until the respective municipality unveils its plan.
According to the authors of the letter, while the scientific assembly concurs that hydrogen is inappropriate for heating buildings, the gas lobby promotes its extensive usage in heating supply – a position based on only four studies, all sponsored or financed by the gas industry. The letter highlights the lobbying initiatives like [H2vorOrt](https://www.cleanenergywire.org/glossary/letter_m#municipal_utilities) and [H2kommunal](https://h2kommunal.gas.info/) which are aiming to convince municipal utilities and administrations. The authors caution that should local authorities opt for hydrogen, the gas industry stands to benefit due to the prolonged sale of natural gas and the potential for making significant profits with expensive hydrogen.
