{"id":94250,"date":"2023-09-26T08:56:11","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T06:56:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sonnenseite.com\/?p=94250"},"modified":"2023-09-26T08:56:13","modified_gmt":"2023-09-26T06:56:13","slug":"at-present-europe-is-not-making-sufficient-use-of-its-hydrogen-potential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sonnenseite.com\/en\/energy\/at-present-europe-is-not-making-sufficient-use-of-its-hydrogen-potential\/","title":{"rendered":"At present, Europe is not making sufficient use of its hydrogen potential"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A new study recommends stronger cooperation at EU level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To reach climate neutrality, Europe\u2019s industry will need large quantities of carbon-neutral hydrogen in the future. Many European countries, including Germany, are planning large investments to develop and ramp up the hydrogen industry needed for this. Within the HyPat research project, a new study by Fraunhofer ISI, RIFS Potsdam and the German Energy Agency (dena) makes five recommendations to the EU and the Member States and reveals a significant mismatch between the ratio of current investments and the potentials of individual European regions for low-cost hydrogen production. Furthermore, despite all the efforts made to produce hydrogen domestically, Germany will be an importer of hydrogen in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Windy and sunny countries with high potential to produce low-cost renewable energy could largely meet Europe\u2019s demand for hydrogen in the future and supply hydrogen to those European regions that do not have sufficient economic potentials compared to the demand expected in the future, such as Germany or the Netherlands, However, the investments made in those countries are currently low compared to Germany. Stronger cooperation at EU level could help to steer investments in the right direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study compares two scenarios for different ranges of hydrogen use in Europe with the regional potentials for producing green hydrogen as cheaply as possible. In its analysis, the study focuses on EU policy measures and data on funding hydrogen production and applications in EU countries. Questions concerning infrastructure (storage and transport) were not part of the study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Europe has the potential to supply itself with hydrogen in the future<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The analysis shows that Europe could largely meet its future demand for hydrogen from domestic production at competitive prices. There is the opportunity, therefore, to make European industry less dependent on imports from third countries. According to the study, the technical potential to produce renewable electricity in Europe in 2050 (EU plus Norway, Switzerland and Great Britain) at costs of up to 40 euros per MWh is large enough to meet the entire demand for electricity, including the electricity needed to produce hydrogen, even assuming a widespread use of hydrogen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regions with high potential for solar and wind power would play a crucial role in hydrogen production. The biggest potentials for the production of renewable energy in 2050 are found in Norway (more than 1900 TWh), Spain (more than 1760 TWh) and France (more than 1700 TWh). These countries have more potential than they need to meet their own demand, even with a strong domestic use of hydrogen. Countries whose demand exceeds their own potential, i.e., those with a deficit, will have to import the hydrogen they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Germany will be dependent on hydrogen imports despite its ambitious targets for expanding electrolysis<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

France is currently planning 6.5 Gigawatts of electrolysis capacity by 2030, while Spain recently raised its target from 4 Gigawatts to 11 Gigawatts, putting it in first place in Europe at present. The German government\u2019s National Hydrogen Strategy plans 10 Gigawatts of electrolysis capacity for hydrogen production by 2030. In spite of these targets, Germany will not be able to meet its demand on its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the study, Germany\u2019s future demand is more than double its potential for expanding renewable energies. In 2050, Germany could be the deficit country with the largest absolute supply gap within the EU: Even with a limited range of applications, there would be a shortfall of more than 550 TWh of renewable energy, according to the researchers (see figure). Conclusion: In the long term, Germany will have to rely on imports of energy and hydrogen to supply its domestic industries. Other countries with larger supply gaps include the Netherlands, Belgium and the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Investments in hydrogen are not optimally distributed<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The European Union is not fully exploiting the potentials identified by the study to meet the targets for producing green hydrogen. The researchers point out that investments in hydrogen production and use are failing to include some of the most promising regions. Germany, France and Great Britain are currently investing the most in developing a hydrogen industry. Several projects are currently planned in Spain, but the investment volume at national level falls far short of the potential in the sunny country. The study also criticizes the fact that the EU\u2019s current funding programs, such as the EU Innovation Fund, would only make this imbalance worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study makes a number of proposals that could help to better distribute investments in Europe and provide more targeted support for the market ramp-up of the hydrogen industry in countries with high potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n