This study (in German only) analyses recent economic and political developments regarding hydrogen in the USA and outlines an agenda for collaboration between Germany and the US in this field.
The chapters deal with (1) the status quo for hydrogen, (2) the hydrogen debate so far, (3) production, cost and demand potentials, (4) future energy policy prospects, also regarding the potential role of the US as a hydrogen exporter, and (5) potentials for cooperation with Germany.
As the Biden administration will pursue the goal of climate neutrality by 2050, the US is facing a turnaround on climate and energy policy. Thus, Germany can now strengthen its cooperation with the US on various aspects of the energy transition. Green hydrogen (i.e., hydrogen produced using only renewable energy) gives both countries an opportunity to discuss transatlantic energy trade that goes beyond liquid natural gas (LNG) exports and is in line with their newly-shared climate policy goals. This study shows that, by using just a fraction of its renewable energy potential, the US could completely cover its own energy needs and further export considerable amounts of green hydrogen to less well-endowed countries such as Germany. However, the US also has ideal conditions for the production of (fossil fuel-sourced) grey or (less emission-intensive through carbon capture and storage) blue hydrogen and could produce hydrogen from nuclear power in the future.
Further publications from this project
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Hydrogen in Canada (in German, January 2021)
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Sustainable hydrogen: partnership between importing countries is essential (Tagesspiegel Background, January 2020)
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Green hydrogen: International cooperation potentials for Germany (in German, adelphi, October 2019)
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The Hydrogen Debate in Australia (in German, adelphi, August 2019)
