After the break of the traffic light coalition in the federal government, Baden-Württemberg’s Environment and Energy Minister Thekla Walker (Greens) is calling for the CDU’s support for a planned law to accelerate the expansion of hydrogen. “I appeal to the CDU in the federal government not to make this project a victim of political tactics and to push the hydrogen acceleration law through the Bundestag with the government,” Walker told the German Press Agency in Stuttgart.
Among other things, the law provides for the simplification and digitalization of planning and approval procedures. So-called electrolysers, which produce hydrogen on site independently of pipelines using electricity from renewable energies, should also benefit.
“The facilitation of the construction and approval of electrolysers must not be put off for a long time,” demanded Walker. The Baden-Württemberg CDU member of the Bundestag and parliamentary group deputy Andreas Jung has repeatedly called for more speed for a hydrogen economy, said Walker. “Now he can deliver.”
The country wants to support electrolyzers with millions
The state plans to spend a lot of money on expanding the hydrogen supply, said the minister: “As the state government, we are currently proposing to the state parliament funding for local hydrogen production with electrolysers amounting to 150 million euros by 2030.” However, that presupposes that the planned relief for their construction is also decided in the Bundestag.
Hydrogen is considered a kind of all-rounder in the fight against climate change. The odorless and colorless gas can replace the combustion of coal, oil or gas in industry and transport. It is obtained through so-called electrolysis, in which water (H2O) is split into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) using electricity. If electricity from renewable energies is used for this purpose, it is referred to as green hydrogen. This can generate electricity again in a fuel cell.
According to a survey by the state environment ministry, Baden-Württemberg needs significantly more hydrogen than originally assumed so that the country can become climate neutral by 2040.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:241112-930-286064/1
