Berlin and Paris agree Hydrogen from nuclear power is no longer taboo

Because it can replace natural gas at the molecular level and is equally suitable for storage, hydrogen is regarded as the key to the energy transition. The subject of the element's production, which is largely unexplored in its natural state, and the theory of colors are the two topics that receive the most attention.

In the federal government, "green" hydrogen produced through electrolysis using green electricity is especially well-liked. However, there is less attention paid to the movement of the source of inspiration and hope, both in terms of international movement and domestic distribution.

However, these holes must now be filled. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) highlighted the advancements made in the Paris negotiations at the conclusion of the Franco-German Council of Ministers and stated that "Huge amounts of hydrogen" will be required for a decarbonized economy.

This primarily refers to the transportation bottleneck: France is forced to act as a transit nation when Germany uses the H2Med Mediterranean pipeline, which runs between Barcelona and Marseille, to import hydrogen from Spain. However, there isn't yet a forwarding infrastructure in place.

Given that H2Med isn't expected to start operating until 2030 at the earliest, it is still unclear who will build it when, for how much money, and under what circumstances. Since the transport of hydrogen is more challenging than that of natural gas due to its volatility and necessitates higher safety standards, there are still technical questions that need to be resolved.

"In recognition of the differences" After the franco-german disputes of recent months, it is still regarded as progress on the diplomatic front to have made at least one step forward in terms of hydrogen. Germany vehemently backed Madrid's Midcat pipeline advocacy last summer. At first, the pipeline was intended to be used to transport natural gas overland through the Pyrenees.

This was not well received in Paris, where there was talk of a Franco-Spanish project, and it was decided that the construction of the now-planned undersea hydrogen pipeline would be preferable for reasons of avoiding local residents' protests as well as climate protection. Now, "the necessary measures (.)" are covered by the franco-german declaration from Sunday.

dot . (including the construction of the necessary infrastructure, such as an extension of the H2Med pipeline, to be undertaken for the transport of hydrogen throughout Europe.

The "conclusions and recommendations" on "strategic decisions regarding the development of hydrogen" that a working group from the energy ministries of both countries is currently working on are anticipated at the end of April. In this context, the French and Germans have even managed to reach an understanding on the issue of whether "red" hydrogen produced by nuclear power plants is classified as being more environmentally friendly than the "green" variant - a position that Paris is adamantly pushing while Berlin has so far been rebuffed.

The current Solomonic justification reads, "Recognizing the differences between our respective national energy production, we will work towards a common understanding and strategic roadmap to enable large-scale hydrogen production." However, it is claimed that the Greens pushed for the avoidance of the terms "nuclear power" and "nuclear energy" and the description of "red" hydrogen as "lower carbon.". Additionally, the regions need to be linked.

Both the announcement of a new franco-german research program on new battery technologies and the wording of nuclear fusion, which is not popular in Germany but is stressed "as a long-term option for a new carbon-free, safe and reliable energy source," cause people to sit up and take notice and want to bring to life. Although they also need to be connected, sunny, windy regions are good for producing hydrogen.

Figures from the government suggest that by 2030, Spain could supply up to 10% of the green hydrogen needed by the EU. By 2030, the domestic production that the grid operator Enagás anticipates will be at least 2 million tons, or one-fifth of what the EU has in mind.

By 2050, there might be 33 million tons of hydrogen produced annually on the Iberian Peninsula, 27 million of which would be exported, according to the European Hydrogen Backbone industry association. The government declared that by enhancing this pan-European aspect of H2Med, Spain would be in a prime position to take the lead in Europe as a major hub for green energy.

The expansion of energy cooperation was emphasized in the Thursday friendship agreement between the United States and France. Germany's national hydrogen network is the subject of elaborate plans, but actual implementation is still decades away.

A total of 80% of the lines would need to be built from scratch; the remaining 80% would be laid over already-existing natural gas pipes. The gas network operators, who are their owner, are still waiting on a legal directive.

Companies will not invest, which will cause the expansion to be delayed, as long as there is a lack of legal and financial clarity. particularly in light of the strict legal separation between the operation of hydrogen and gas network that the European Commission is advocating.

Additionally, gas companies should only be permitted to run hydrogen networks through the end of 2030, at which point they would be forced to sell their lines. At least that is how the proposed gas market directive, which would take effect at the end of 2021, is envisioned.

Jens Geier (SPD), the accountable rapporteur for the European Parliament, wants to stop that from happening. According to him, the proposal prevents synergies that would occur if gas and hydrogen networks were operated concurrently.

To advance the expansion of the hydrogen network, the operators of the gas network require security for long-term planning. In particular, the Greens are opposed to it.

Voting in the legislature is scheduled for March. Its position has not yet been decided by the Council of Ministers of the EU member states.

According to Brussels, the outcome should ultimately depend on the stance taken by Germany. There are still a lot of unknowns.

For instance, the business community is opposing the Greens' (Economic Minister Robert Habeck's) plan to create a state-owned federal network company to purchase the lines. Instead of using a combined calculation, the financing calls for a transitional regulation that separates the fees for gas and hydrogen.

The latter would then start out prohibitively expensive, for steelworks, for instance. A solution is provided by fees that are capped.

Losses on a regulatory account would be the responsibility of the state for the time being.

Both the announcement of a new Franco-German research program on new battery technologies and the wording of nuclear fusion, which is not popular in Germany but is stressed "as a long-term option for a new carbon-free, safe and reliable energy source," cause people to sit up and take notice and want to bring to life.