Limits and Opportunities of a Grid-serving, green Hydrogen Economy
Climate protection targets, price increases and independence – the demand for Low Carbon Hydrogen is increasing in light of current and future challenges. Yet the necessary foundations and economic concepts for a hydrogen economy are still not available – for grid-serving integration of green hydrogen through the use of electrolyzers, for example, in order to be able to respond to energy fluctuations. In our interview Dr. Kathrin Goldammer, Managing Director of the Reiner Lemoine Institute (RLI), recommends learning to walk before running. It is important to start with the expansion of renewable energies in order to prepare our energy system for a hydrogen economy.
The colourful world of hydrogen
One thing is for sure: hydrogen (H2) is gaining increasing importance in Germany’s sustainable energy supply. The contribution H2 can make to reduce greenhouse gas emissions depends primarily on its production process – based on the production process, the CO2 footprint can turn out differently. The plans for an efficient but also low-emission H2 production process are being elaborated today. This article outlines possible options and perspectives and describes the hydrogen colour theory.