Germany will have to import most of its green hydrogen, minister says: around 70%

German Economy Minister and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck admitted that Germany will be able to meet only around 30% of expected demand for so-called green hydrogen in the future, and will have to import the remaining 70% from abroad. The information was reported by international news agency Reuters.

Habeck’s statement last week confirmed expectations that, despite plans for a rapid expansion of renewable energy sources, Germany will not be able to meet a large share of its future demand for green hydrogen. The fuel is expected to become one of the building blocks of decarbonising the German economy, serving both as a means of storing surplus electricity generated from renewable sources and as a way to decarbonise sectors that cannot easily switch to using renewable energy.

As recently as early March, the government’s draft updated hydrogen strategy indicated that imports of green hydrogen would need to account for between 50% and 70% of expected future consumption. The economy ministry now appears to be leaning towards the higher figure, underscoring the need to find reliable partners to supply the commodity.