Hydrogen as a fuel and energy storage: Success factors for the German Energiewende

Germany is amongst the countries shifting their energy systems from reliance on fossil fuels to supply regimes based on renewable energies. At the same time, Germany is one of the international hubs of hydrogen and fuel cell demonstration and R&D. The shift to renewable energies of the Energiewende goes along with emission reductions and efficiency improvements both in the transport energy and the stationary sector. Hydrogen offers a large potential for integrating renewable energies in both sectors and facilitates the use of the highly efficient fuel cell, resulting in substantial emission cuts. The National Innovation Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology of the German government supports market preparations for the technologies concerned. Hydrogen produced from renewable energies is used to power the fuel cell vehicles of the Clean Energy Partnership. Electrolyzers are employed both at large wind-hydrogen-systems providing fuel as well as energy storage services, and on-site at hydrogen retail stations. Industrial actors collaborate in the initiative H2Mobility towards a nationwide roll-out of hydrogen infrastructure supporting the market introduction of fuel cell vehicles. The article discusses the above policies and initiatives and argues that hydrogen and fuel cell technologies may strongly support the Energiewende.