Parallel developments and differences concerning climate protection and renewable energies became visible during a Parliamentary Evening which was held on November 4th by DWV with kind support from the US embassy in Germany, McPhy Energy Deutschland GmbH, Linde AG and the National Organization Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW).

Hydrogen cars from serial production enter the market faster than experts had expected them to do. The state of California takes the lead; state rules promoting low or zero emission vehicles are an important factor.

The US Department of Energy (DoE)  has worked to develop hydrogen and fuel cells both for mobile and for stationary applications. In particular, the strategic objectives defined by the department in terms of costs, efficiency, storage capacity, etc. have given important impulses to research and development. The close exchange between USA and Germany is particularly important for the global reduction of CO2 emissions from road traffic and for the market penetration of “power-to-gas” and hydrogen mobility.

The energy transition in the transport sector obviously depends on suitable rules from politics. The Parliamentary Evening of DWV came just in the right moment to discuss with representatives from politics and economy about which incentives for demand are necessary. Hydrogen and fuel cells are necessary elements of an energy turnaround which is economically successful. Integrating mobility enhances supply reliability and economic feasibility in the power sector.

DWV chairman Werner Diwald summed up the evening saying: “From the perspective of DWV the evening was a real success. It became obvious that “Power-to-Gas” and hydrogen mobility are not a German folly but that this path is taken globally. Germany and the EU must be careful not to miss a technology trend again. “Power-to-Gas” is not just a key for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from transport and to more renewable power, but it also lowers our dependence from imported raw materials. At the same time the idea offers a huge potential for new jobs in machinery and system construction. “

Source:  press release 7/14 from the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association