New hydrogen atlas: Germany's green energy future!

New hydrogen atlas: Germany's green energy future!

A new hydrogen potential atlas has been online since today and offers detailed information on suitable locations for the production of green hydrogen in Germany. This innovative project is headed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and is part of the "Powerd" initiative, which combines scientific research and practical use for hydrogen extraction. The Atlas identifies hydrogen potential generated by electrolysis and shows the future possible uses in industry and traffic, which should support Germany's climate goals.

A central goal of the Atlas is to evaluate locations, taking into account the hydrogen requirements of various industries, such as chemistry and steel production, as well as the traffic sector, where hydrogen could be used, for example for buses and trains. The Atlas also takes into account the regional availability of renewable energies, especially in northern Germany, where higher wind speeds offer cost advantages for electrolysis locations.

Interactive web app for data and knowledge

In addition, the hydrogen atlas Germany is offered as an interactive web app. This tool was developed as part of a project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to make research results and data accessible to the use of hydrogen technologies. The card not only shows current developments, but also potential for various power-to-X products by 2050, and enables users to find locations of existing and planned systems along the hydrogen value chain.

This web app, which has gone through many adjustments since the publication on July 21, 2022, also provides extensive data records that are beneficial for decision-makers from politics and business as well as interested citizens. The data material is provided by the research center for energy networks and energy storage in cooperation with VDMA and DIW Econ.

key technologies for the energy transition

Electrolysis is considered a key technology for the energy transition, and the EU hydrogen strategy aims to achieve an electrolyser output of 40 gigawatts by 2030. The Atlas not only evaluates the suitable locations, but also includes transport costs and the existing hydrogen infrastructure such as pipelines in its analyzes. The future hydrogen infrastructure is crucial for the location assessment and the economy of hydrogen production.

In addition, coupling products such as oxygen and heat are considered. It is particularly interesting to use oxygen in sewage treatment plants to reduce energy consumption. The ATLAS contains specific key figures regarding electrolysis capacity, hydrogen costs, use of renewable energies and the annual energy requirement that are important for investment decisions.