UK and Germany sign agreement to help accelerate the development of an international hydrogen industry
A new important agreement between the UK and Germany could help to accelerate the development of an international hydrogen industry – with the 2 countries at the cutting edge of its development.
Signed today at the UK Embassy in Berlin, by Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Lord Callanan and Federal Republic of Germany’s State Secretary for Energy Philip Nimmermann - a Joint Declaration of Intent will see the UK and Germany work together to underpin the international trade in hydrogen.
The 2 governments will also accelerate the role of low-carbon hydrogen in their nations’ energy mix, showing the world how to expand new, net zero-friendly markets. They committed to work together to further advance ground-breaking and renewable hydrogen technologies, supporting jobs and low-carbon investment.
The partnership follows significant investment by both countries in the development of hydrogen as an alternative fuel. In the UK, the government is supporting new low-carbon hydrogen production with capital from the £240 million Net Zero Hydrogen Fund and revenue support from the Hydrogen Production Business Model. In Germany, the government is also supporting the implementation of the National Hydrogen Strategy with funding from the Climate and Transformation Fund, providing a push for the ramp-up of a hydrogen market.
It will also further boost the move towards net zero emissions by 2050, and the energy security of both countries, moving away from fossil fuels and towards cleaner and more secure, diversified alternatives.
UK’s Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Lord Callanan said:
Federal Republic of Germany’s State Secretary for Energy, Philip Nimmermann said:
Five pillars of collaboration were agreed by the leaders:
This work is set to make hydrogen technologies cheaper and more accessible, aiming to lower energy costs for consumers in the future.
As industry feels the benefit of trade opportunities between the 2 countries, private investment in hydrogen technology and projects is set to follow the agreement.
Providing supportive environments, the countries will discuss safety standards that can be used internationally with the aim to establish reliable, stable markets for sustainable low carbon hydrogen, in particular from renewables.
The agreement will further help the UK and Germany reach their respective goals of net zero emissions by 2050 and to secure a reliable energy supply for economic and energy security purposes, recognising the shifting geopolitical landscape.
Steve Scrimshaw, VP of Siemens Energy UK&I and a member of the UK government’s Hydrogen Advisory Council and the Green Jobs Delivery Group, said:
Dennis Schulz, CEO of ITM Power, said:
Michael Lewis, CEO of Uniper, said:
Sopna Sury, COO at Hydrogen RWE Generation, said:
Notes to Editors
The first 15 winning projects from the UK’s Net Zero Hydrogen Fund were announced in March 2023, with 2 further funding rounds to be opened in 2023.