Source: energate

He hopes that the strategy will soon be adopted by the federal government, stated the FDP (Free Democratic Party) politician at the 'Energie Crossmedial' conference in Berlin. At the same time, he warned against making too many pre-determinations in the paper and micromanaging. "We want to enable and open up, not close off," Mansmann emphasised.

Actually, the new hydrogen strategy with its increased expansion targets was supposed to be adopted by the end of 2022. Now the date is April. One reason for the delay is the debate about the role of the state in the development of the hydrogen infrastructure. In a draft, the Green-led Federal Ministry of Economics proposed a state network company.

Criticism of state networks

The FDP is critical of this. Mansmann also stressed that he had "question marks" about the hydrogen grid company. A state commitment to the infrastructure is important, but this does not have to be done by a state grid company. "I hope for a formulation that I can agree to," he continued.

Mansmann sees movement in dealing with the different hydrogen colours. More colours would have to be planned for the transition, he stressed. In his opinion, this could also be a signal to the European neighbours. He was referring to the current debate between Germany and France on hydrogen from nuclear power.

Debate on red hydrogen

At the end of January, both countries had declared in a joint declaration "that both renewable and low-carbon hydrogen can be taken into account in the European decarbonisation goals". From France's perspective, this includes hydrogen from nuclear power. As a result of the declaration, France agreed to the extension of the planned Spanish-French hydrogen pipeline 'H2Med' to Germany. The criteria recently presented by the EU Commission for hydrogen within the framework of the EU Renewable Energy Directive also give so-called Red Hydrogen Opportunities.

The German Federal Ministry of Economics takes a critical view of this and does not want to recognise red hydrogen for the renewables targets. The French Secretary of State for Europe, Laurence Boone, then threatened to block the pipeline project in the 'Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung'. The EU states and the EU Parliament still have to approve the hydrogen criteria.

The hydrogen commissioner Mansmann stressed in Berlin that it was a diplomatic task to come to a solution. Germany has to be careful not to transfer its concepts to others. It was also clear to him that red hydrogen could not be classified as green. Blue hydrogen is also recognised as blue, he stressed.

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