Germany’s dash for hydrogen gathers pace

Federal government and states grant a combined €4.6b to projects across the value chain, despite struggling economy and pressure on public finances

Germany’s push to hardwire hydrogen into Europe’s largest economy gained momentum in July, with a €4.6b ($5b) public funding commitment to multiple projects, as well as the fleshing out of plans to tender for hydrogen-fired power generation and the signing of a first major green ammonia import deal. Twenty-three projects spanning electrolysis, storage, pipelines and the use of liquid organic carriers have secured public funding under Hy2Infra-Welle, an umbrella project waved through by the EU in February as an Important Project of Common European, allowing it to circumvent EU competition rules on state aid. The funding will be provided by both the federal government (70%) and the individual