Research Institute for Sustainability Helmholtz Centre Potsdam

Hydrogen
Charlie Choy

Green Hydrogen for Sustainable Development: The Role of Multilateral Development Banks

Industrialised countries are largely relying on imports from countries in the Global South to secure their future supply of green hydrogen. While multilateral development banks are financing green hydrogen projects, they also want to ensure that these investments contribute to sustainable development in the exporting countries. To this end, they are tying their loans to environmental and social indicators. But how effective are these policies? This is what Charlie Choy, a law scholar from Hong Kong, is investigating during a one-year fellowship at RIFS.
The Geopolitics of Hydrogen

“The Geopolitics of Hydrogen”: Book explores European strategies

The European Union and many European countries have ambitious targets for the production and import of hydrogen. The book ‘The Geopolitics of Hydrogen’, edited by RIFS researchers Rainer Quitzow and Yana Zabanova, provides a comprehensive analysis of EU hydrogen policy and the national strategies of European countries.
Germany's engagement with partner countries for the promotion of green hydrogen

Success of German Hydrogen Strategy Depends on Production Capacities in Partner Countries

Germany aims to become a global leader in hydrogen technologies. In contrast to other countries, its hydrogen strategy places a strong focus on promoting “green hydrogen” based on renewable energies, supported by cooperation with partners in distant regions. While this approach is likely to constrain progress at first, it may be the only way for Germany to achieve its climate targets in the longer run, RIFS researchers argue in a study published in Energy Strategy Reviews. At the same time, this means that the success of Germany’s hydrogen strategy depends on the development of production capacities in partner countries.
Solar panels at a gas storage facility in the Netherlands.

29.12.2023

How Decarbonization Will Transform the Geography of Industrial Production: New Evidence on the “Renewables Pull” Hypothesis

The availability of renewable energy is an important factor for future investment decisions in the chemical and steel industry. This is a key finding of our survey of 300 decision-makers from the chemical and steel industry. 92 per cent of the respondents anticipate that their company will relocate facilities as it seeks to decarbonize production. In addition to low-cost renewable energies, the respondents identify political support as a key factor in investment location decisions.
Green hydrogen offers opportunities to develop technological leadership within an emerging net-zero economy.

25.09.2023

The Political Economy of Green Hydrogen in Europe: Reinforcing Regional Inequalities?

In February 2023, the EU presented the Green Deal Industrial Plan, in which it laid out its strategy for the green transition in industry and energy. Green hydrogen will be an essential cornerstone of this transition. The scale-up of renewable hydrogen production and its use in industry and transport has the potential to achieve decarbonization where direct electrification is not an option. Green hydrogen also offers opportunities to develop technological leadership and economic perspectives within a future net-zero economy.
Green hydrogen is considered a promising energy resource.

Europe Is Not Making Sufficient Use of Its Hydrogen Potential

To reach climate neutrality, Europe’s industry will need large quantities of carbon-neutral hydrogen in the future. Many European countries, including Germany, are planning large investments to develop and ramp up the hydrogen industry needed for this. Within the HyPat research project, a new study by RIFS Potsdam, Fraunhofer ISI and the German Energy Agency (dena) makes five recommendations to the EU and the Member States.
Fellow Beatriz Ribeiro

Is Green Hydrogen a Development Opportunity for Emerging Economies?

Green hydrogen will likely play a crucial role in the global energy transition. RIFS Fellow Beatriz Couto Ribeiro is assessing the opportunities for Latin American economies to enter green hydrogen value chains. In this interview, she explains her research.
A solar array in Kazakhstan, where interest in renewable energy is growing.

Interest in Renewable Energy Slowly Growing in Resource-Rich Countries in Central Asia

Fossil fuel industries dominate the economies of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. However, interest in green technologies, renewable energy, and hydrogen is also gathering pace – albeit unevenly – in the three Central Asian states, according to a recent study by RIFS researcher Yana Zabanova
Wasserstoff gilt als entscheidend für das Erreichen von Netto-Null.

Research Examines International Hydrogen Policies

As countries get to grips with their climate-neutrality targets, hydrogen has assumed a key role in transitions in energy and industry around the world. A new series of discussion papers published by the Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) provides a detailed analysis of hydrogen strategies and policies in different countries and regions.
A wind farm in the Far North

27.01.2023

Grabbing the Land or Benefitting Communities? Renewable Hydrogen in the Norwegian Arctic

Green hydrogen (H2) is often portrayed as a key component for the green energy transition, since it is produced with renewable energy through electrolysis – the splitting up of freshwater into hydrogen and oxygen – and does not emit carbon dioxide when combusted. Not only does green hydrogen harbour huge potential for the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors (e.g. steelmaking and production of fertilizers) as well as maritime shipping and aviation, its use as an energy storage solution makes it particularly promising for remote and sparsely populated areas with an abundance of renewable energy resources.
China is pursing a strategy aimed at expanding the supply of hydrogen from all sources

China's Hydrogen Strategy: Sustainable Generation Not A Priority

Hydrogen is widely viewed as a beacon of hope for the global energy transition. China is pursuing an ambitious agenda to strengthen its hydrogen sector. As a new RIFS Study of China's emerging hydrogen economy shows, its current efforts prioritize industrial development ahead of decarbonization and energy security concerns.
hydrogenproduction Gulfstates

Why the Gulf States Are Betting on Hydrogen

Why are Gulf oil and gas producers so keen to promote hydrogen energy? This question is addressed in a new discussion paper by Natalie Koch, political geographer and fellow at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS). She concludes that for political and corporate leaders in the Gulf states, pivoting towards hydrogen serves to maintain the social, political, and economic status quo. Questions of energy justice are likely to remain, however.
On 28th and 29th of September, the partners of the SCARLET project gathered at the IASS for their kick-off meeting.

Superconducting Cables for Europe’s Clean Energy Future

Rising amounts of renewable energy coupled with an increase in decentralised power generation call for the modernisation and significant expansion of the European grids. The EU project SCARLET (“Superconducting cables for sustainable energy transition”) unites 15 partners from 7 countries around the goal of designing and industrially manufacturing superconducting cables to enable more efficient and less costly power transmission from renewable electricity generation sites.
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