Germany's New Hydrogen Import Strategy and Netherlands' Growing Hydrogen Market
Key Ideas
- Germany adopts a new hydrogen import strategy to meet the growing demand for various hydrogen derivatives like ammonia and methanol, with potential imports reaching up to 90 TWh by 2030.
- The strategy aims to secure investments in partner countries for hydrogen production, develop import infrastructure, and provide investment security for German industries.
- The Dutch hydrogen market shows significant growth in capacity, with planned low-carbon hydrogen production reaching around 17 GW by 2040, despite challenges in project development phases.
- Partnerships like RWE and TotalEnergies' collaboration in the OranjeWind offshore wind project in the Netherlands aim to advance system integration and increase renewable energy capacity.
Germany has introduced a new import strategy for hydrogen and its derivatives to address the increasing demand for clean energy sources in the medium and long term. The strategy outlines the need for importing molecular hydrogen, gaseous or liquid hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, naphtha, and electricity-based fuels, with potential imports of 45 to 90 TWh by 2030. The government foresees a rise in imports even after 2030, with projected demands of around 360 to 500 TWh of hydrogen and 200 TWh of hydrogen derivatives by 2045. This strategy is seen as complementing the National Hydrogen Strategy and aims to ensure investment security for hydrogen production in partner countries and the development of essential import infrastructure.
The Dutch hydrogen market has witnessed considerable growth in capacity between October 2023 and April 2024. However, projects in the Netherlands have faced challenges in progressing further, with limited final investment decisions noted. Despite this, data from the ICIS Hydrogen Foresight project database reveals a promising trajectory, with planned low-carbon hydrogen production capacity expected to reach approximately 17 GW by 2040, a significant step towards sustainable energy solutions.
In a move to boost hydrogen adoption, companies like Ineos are exploring real-life applications of fuel-cell technology. Ineos has initiated customer deliveries in Germany's Rheinberg area using Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Trucks, with plans to expand into Belgium and the Netherlands. Similarly, Airbus and Avolon are collaborating to study the feasibility of hydrogen-powered aircraft, signaling progress in the aviation industry's transition towards cleaner energy sources. These initiatives demonstrate a positive shift towards a more sustainable and hydrogen-focused energy ecosystem.