Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI
Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI

Project

Scientific support for the further development of instruments for the market ramp-up of hydrogen and its derivatives (BMWK)

The aim of the project is to provide scientific support to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) in the further development of concrete instruments and a national framework for the market ramp-up of hydrogen. This framework shall create stable investment conditions for hydrogen production and infrastructure, avoid undesirable developments in the market and ensure a cost-efficient and target-oriented use of funding. Specifically, technical, economic, energy-systemic and legal analyses will be carried out to enable an overall systemically useful, i.e. cost-efficient, sustainable and secure ramp-up of the hydrogen market. These analyses serve to identify existing obstacles and the need for action for the market ramp-up on the one hand, and to develop science-based recommendations for action for the design of instruments and framework conditions on the other hand.

Expand all Close all

The European Union (EU) wants to achieve net greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050 and Germany by 2045. These ambitious targets require the decarbonisation of all sectors of the economy. While some sectors and applications, such as passenger transport, can be decarbonised through direct electrification, in other sectors and applications this is technically more challenging or expensive. Here, the use of green hydrogen and its derivatives is a promising alternative. So far, the large-scale production and use of green hydrogen is only possible to a limited extent. This is due, among other things, to the high production costs. Another challenge is the current lack of transport infrastructure for hydrogen and some of its derivatives.

 

Against this background, the aim of the project is a scientific investigation and support with regard to questions relevant to the market ramp-up of hydrogen and the examination of the need for further action for a cost-efficient and target-oriented ramp-up of the hydrogen market in Germany. To this end, a review of the market ramp-up for hydrogen and its downstream products achieved to date will be conducted, as well as a comparison with the goals of the German government. On this basis, technical, economic and legal barriers will be identified and scientific recommendations and options for action for the further development of the national framework and the national instruments for a market ramp-up will be developed.

The project is divided into nine Work Packages (WPs) which are closely interconnected in terms of content:

  • WP 1: Brief papers on studies, instrument suggestions and position papers
  • WP 2: Instruments for the ramp-up of the production or electrolysis
  • WP 3: Instruments for planning and financing or funding of hydrogen infrastructures
  • WP 4: Use of hydrogen
  • WP 5: Role of transition technologies (low-carbon hydrogen)
  • WP 6: Reporting and certification systems for climate-neutral hydrogen and its derivatives
  • WP 7: Role of imports for the hydrogen ramp-up
  • WP 8: Markets for hydrogen and its derivatives - aspects of the market ramp-up
  • WP 9: Development of a scientific evaluation concept (support systems)

  • Evaluation, reviewing, assessment
  • Innovation and technology analysis, technological impact assessment, diffusion analysis
  • Market-, branch-, competition and potential analysis
  • Policy analysis

Duration

from 12/2021 to 12/2024

Client

  • Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)

Partners

  • Guidehouse Germany GmbH
  • Becker Büttner Held (BBH), Rechtsanwälte Wirtschaftsprüfer Steuerberater
  • Consentec
  • Fraunhofer IEG
  • Öko-Institut e. V., Institut für angewandte Ökologie, Deutschland
  • Prognos AG