Green hydrogen: Berlin introduces Federal Council initiative

Berlin is calling on the federal government to create better framework conditions for the production and use of green hydrogen. On Tuesday, the Senate decided to launch a joint initiative with the state of Brandenburg.

According to Franziska Giffey (SPD), Senator for Economic Affairs, both countries want to ensure that electricity from renewable energies, which is needed in the region for the production of hydrogen, is more or less produced locally and does not have to be transported over long distances. This would protect the electricity grids, be more economical and also more environmentally friendly.

Green hydrogen from green electricity

Alongside solar or wind energy, hydrogen is considered a building block for the energy transition and is produced using gas or electricity. Hydrogen is only considered "green" if green electricity is used in its production. According to Giffey, EU regulations currently stipulate that this electricity can be purchased from all over Germany, for example for Berlin and Brandenburg.

Federal Council initiative to focus on locally generated electricity

Both states see "false incentives" in this and specifically demand in their Bundesrat initiative that plants for the production of green electricity and hydrogen should be located a maximum of 200 kilometers apart. Electricity for hydrogen produced here would therefore primarily come from eastern Germany. "We believe that this is an issue that is supported by the majority of the federal states," said Giffey on the chances of success of the Bundesrat initiative. Berlin and Brandenburg are also calling for a swift connection to the so-called hydrogen backbone, a nationwide network for the transportation of hydrogen.

Berlin to be climate-neutral by 2045 at the latest

Giffey pointed out that Berlin wants to become climate-neutral by 2045 at the latest. "Hydrogen and the cooperation with Brandenburg to generate renewable energy - especially from wind power - will play a central role in this," she said. "Our goal is to make eastern Germany, with Berlin at its center, the center of a sustainable German hydrogen economy. With short distances for more sustainable energy." Giffey added that Berlin is still at the very beginning when it comes to hydrogen. There are pilot projects, for example at the Berlin city cleaning service, where vehicles are powered by hydrogen. Experts believe that hydrogen could be used to power ships and aircraft, among other things.