Hydrogen infrastructure: second top conversation takes place

Hydrogen infrastructure: second top conversation takes place

The importance of hydrogen as a fuel for a climate -neutral industrial society was emphasized at the second top conversation on the hydrogen infrastructure of Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann. Baden-Württemberg strives to be climate-neutral by 2040, and therefore wants to be connected to a German and European hydrogen network at an early stage.

Since December 2022, the state government has had intensive discussions with the advisory board hydrogen roadmap BW, the company dialogue energy transition and other actors from science, business, associations and municipalities. The aim of this dialogue is to discuss the importance of hydrogen for climate protection and the economy. As part of the second top conversation hydrogen, a joint explanation was signed in which, among other things, Baden-Württemberg will be connected to the planned German core network by 2032.

Environmental and energy Minister Thekla Walker emphasizes that hydrogen is a fuel for a climate-neutral industrial society and that Baden-Württemberg, as the leading industrial country, must be involved in the supply from the start. Since the country has many industrial centers, it is important that the hydrogen network is branched accordingly.

The signatories of the joint explanation demand that several strands are already included in the southwest when the German core network is designed. This includes the hydrogen-capable southern German natural gas pipe (SEL), the north-south pipeline compound in the Rhine Valley to Baden-Württemberg, the connection of the Lake Constance area and the cross-border project "Rhyn Interco" in the Freiburg area.

In order to promote the planning of the future hydrogen nets, the Ministry of the Environment carries out a new hydrogen requirements analysis. The needs of the companies in cooperation with the H2BW platform, the chambers of industry and commerce, the network operator Terranets BW and various industry associations are determined. The need for hydrogen in Baden-Württemberg is expected to increase significantly before the start of the German core network in 2032, especially in electricity generation, industry and heavy goods traffic. Uniform conditions nationwide are required to enable the establishment of electrolysers for local hydrogen production in the southwest

The state actively supports approval procedures through guidelines and recommendations for action and, in parallel, promotes the establishment of the petrol station infrastructure for long-distance trucks with its own funding program. The specialist dialogue on the hydrogen infrastructure continues, with the focus on the further planning of the nationwide core network and the establishment of regional generation hub.

The H2BW platform acts as a central point of contact for hydrogen and fuel cell technology in Baden-Württemberg. Here the activities are bundled and the network partners coordinated.

The joint explanation of the hydrogen infrastructure for Baden-Württemberg can be downloaded as a PDF. Further information on the hydrogen economy is available on the website of the Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Energy Management.