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Germany earmarks approximately $3.8 bln for future green hydrogen imports

Germany will earmark approximately 3.53 billion euros ($ 3.8 billion) of public funds to procure green hydrogen and its derivatives in between 2027 and 2036, the economy ministry stated on Tuesday, as Berlin bets on the fuel to help decarbonise Europe's greatest economy.

The aim of the financing procedure is to combine supply and demand, both in terms of amounts and costs, the ministry said in a statement, adding that cash will originate from the federal government's Environment and Transformation Fund.

Germany is seeking to expand reliance on hydrogen as a. future energy source to cut greenhouse gas emissions for highly. contaminating industrial sectors that can not be amazed such as. steel and chemicals and lower dependency on imported fossil. fuel.

Berlin will have to import as much as 70% of its hydrogen needs. in the future as Europe's biggest economy intends to end up being. climate-neutral by 2045, according to the government's updated. hydrogen method released last summer season.

The earmarked funds will be used to make up for the. distinction between supply and demand costs, the ministry said,. adding that it was discussing the information of making use of the new. moneying with the European Commission.

In an effort to accelerate the global market ramp-up of green. hydrogen and increase financial investments, the government launched the. H2Global task in 2021 by using a double auction. Under the. hydrogen, scheme or hydrogen derivatives are bought cheaply on. the world market and sold to the greatest bidder.

It's a start. No more, no less, Helge Barlen, a hydrogen. professional at AFRY Management Consulting said, adding whether this. sum would be sufficient to improve Germany's hydrogen economy. would depend on how big the difference in between bid and ask. costs would progress.

To give a concept of measurements, Barlen said that with a. hypothetical rate distinction of the 4 euros per kilogramme of. hydrogen that was the cap in the first H2Global financing tranche,. this funding quantity would support near one million metric. lots over ten years.

This might serve to decarbonise about 5% of the German steel. market at its present annual output for example, he added.

David Wenger, a hydrogen projects designer, stated Tuesday's. statement showed the federal government's boundless optimism. concerning the volumes of green hydrogen produced worldwide in the. near future and how quickly output will be scaled up.

The truth is different to what politicians are currently. envisioning. The industry still has a lot of homework to do to. minimize the cost and improve the technology, so I don't believe. that we will see the revealed amounts in 2030, Wenger stated.

(source: Reuters)