The German government has updated and supplemented its National Hydrogen Strategy. Peter Müller-Baum, head of VDMA, Power to X for Applications explains:"The update of the National Hydrogen Strategy (NWS) discussed today in the Bundestag is ambitious, but lacks the necessary depth. The 10 gigawatt target is basically an important sign for a hydrogen ramp-up in Germany. However, the update of the strategy remains too vague in important places - in particular, it does not answer how the higher 10 gigawatt target is to be achieved in Germany in concrete terms. The same applies to the import strategy mentioned in the strategy, which now needs to be developed quickly and filled with concrete quantities. Ultimately, this strategy breathes a spirit of planning, while the clear entrepreneurial signals for the market ramp-up are far too often missing.

The commitment to blue hydrogen for the transition and the plans to expand the infrastructure are very positive. It is also right that the electricity sector should be strengthened as an application sector for hydrogen. However, the measures for achieving these goals are also unclear here. The planned Hydrogen Acceleration Act, which is intended to simplify approval procedures, is absolutely necessary.

Overall, we can and must do more to establish Germany as the lead market for hydrogen technologies by 2030. Unfortunately, it is not clear how this project can succeed, while in the USA, for example, a much more ambitious, uncomplicated funding scheme is taking effect."