Guest Author – Clara Brando, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation fellow – Reviewed by Tu My Tran and Matteo Bizzotto

Renewable Energy Sector in Germany and North-Rhein Westphalia
The 2010 Energiekonzept, published by the German Federal Government, confirms Germany’s commitment towards reducing greenhouse gas (GHG), pointing out that emissions reduction should reach 80-90% by 2050, compared to 1990. The publication states that, at the same time, 80% of the electricity consumed in the country should come from renewable sources. This eventually led to the recent shutting down of 14 reactors of nuclear power in Germany, making the proportion of nuclear energy provision sink from 25% to 6% in October 2022, according to the World Nuclear Association.

In 2016, following the Paris Agreement’s commitment to pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1,5º C above pre-industrial levels, Germany launched the Climate Action Plan 2050, based on contributions from public managers, organized civil society, and citizens. The plan covers the sectors of energy, buildings, transport, industry, agriculture, land use, and forestry and sets guiding principles and milestones. The main goal is to reduce emissions by at least 55% by 2030.

The German State of North Rhein-Westphalia (NRW) is home to a diverse scientific landscape, with over 250 research institutes and 22 universities in the Ruhr Area alone. Additionally, NRW possesses existing pipeline infrastructure that can be adapted for hydrogen transportation. These factors make NRW a key player in developing and utilizing hydrogen as a renewable energy source.

Use of Hydrogen in NRW Energy and Transport. Photo: Regionalverkehr Köln GmbH, NRW HY Summit

Hydrogen Mobility in North Rhein-Westphalia: Scenario and Challenges
The European Hydrogen Roadmap suggests a kickstarting deployment of decarbonizing initiatives in the transport sector, which alongside heating, is the segment with the greatest potential for short-term adoption. Larger vehicles, e.g., buses, trains, and vans, should have a better market acceptance than private cars regarding hydrogen power. Lighter vehicles are currently more likely to contribute to decarbonization goals by using batteries due to existing infrastructure (power grids and domestic sockets). The Roadmap states that, in an ambitious scenario, up to 25% of the European’s fleet could be H2-powered by 2050.

North Rhein Westphalia published its own Hydrogen Roadmap in 2020, acknowledging the intention to join the European Alliance for Clean Hydrogen. The State has also announced, in 2021, the law-abiding goal to reach GHG emission neutrality by 2045.

According to North Rhine-Westphalia’s subsidiary NRW.Energy4Climate, 14% of the State’s GHG emission in the year 2019 came from the transport sector. The path towards achieving Europe’s and the State’s emission reduction goals is through climate-neutral fuels, such as “green hydrogen” – hydrogen obtained through electrolysis powered by energy sources that do not result in CO2 emission.

Specific urban mobility targets, to be achieved by 2025, can be found in North Rhein-Wetphalia’s Hydrogen Roadmap:

– To have more than 400 fuel cell trucks in operation

– To install at least 20 truck filling stations

– To install 60 car filling stations

– To have 500 hydrogen buses in public transport

– To operate the first hydrogen-powered barges

And for 2030, the state has set the following goals:

– To have 11,000 fuel cell trucks over 20 tons in operation

– To install 200 filling stations for trucks and cars

– To place 1,000 fuel cell waste bins

– To have 3,800 fuel cell buses in public transport

Regionalverkehr Köln GmbH hydrogen powered bus. Photo: Regionalverkehr Köln GmbH

Being North Rhein-Westphalia, one of the greatest agglomerations in Europe, with about 18 million inhabitants, its transportation demand is substantially large and a matter to be considered when it comes to national energy strategic planning. The Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport has allocated over 33 million Euros for funding the procurement of hydrogen fuel cell buses in the Bonn-Cologne region. This initiative is expected to enable Regionalverkehr Köln GmbH to increase its hydrogen-powered bus fleet – which is already the largest in Europe – from 52 to 160 vehicles by 2025.

Despite the numerous reasons why the hydrogen economy is reported to be able to alter climate change significantly, there are still challenges to be overcome. The industry expects more robust regulations, common standards, and certification to guarantee that climate-neutral energy sources are used in electrolysis. Although cooperation among stakeholders (even competitors!) is key for the successful development of the hydrogen economy, it is nonetheless scarce. North Rhein-Westphalia, for instance, has the potential to convert the existing power plants and become a leader in hydrogen production, but the State will not be able to produce all the hydrogen it needs, meaning partnerships are essential. There is also the fear that the market is now facing another “hydrogen hype” instead of an actual structural change – when hydrogen is taken too optimistically every few years for the element that might decarbonize all sectors of the economy and stop climate change.

Circumstances involving the hydrogen economy today are distinct: there are more pressing factors, such as the political and economic interest in putting an end to environmentally harmful methods. Additionally, the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to Mayor Kufen, has made it urgent that Germany puts more effort into the energy transition, and it is undeniable that hydrogen plays an important role in ensuring national energy security.