Information and white papers

The German National Hydrogen Council has prepared and published the following information and white papers*:

2023

2022

2021

 

* Note: The NWR is an independent panel of experts. NWR publications do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the German government.

MATERIAL AVAILABILITY OF IRIDIUM: NWR IDENTIFIES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS

On 15 September 2023, the National Hydrogen Council published a paper that identifies research and development needs for the material availability of iridium in the hydrogen sector. The platinum metal iridium will be in greater demand as electrolysers ramp up in the market over the next few years. The paper explains why the production of iridium cannot be increased in the next few years and identifies solutions to counter the expected shortage of the material.

The paper on iridium from the series on material availability in the field of hydrogen and the resulting necessary research and development needs is available for download here.

material availability iridium (PDF, 139 KB)

 

Hydrogen in the road vehicle and rail sector: NWR presents recommendations for action on research and development needs

NWR presents recommendations for action on research and development needs for storing, transporting and refuelling hydrogen for road and rail applications.

The NWR’s white paper ‘Research and development requirements: Storing, transporting and refuelling hydrogen in the road vehicle and rail sector’ can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

R+D requirements road and rail (PDF, 155 KB)

HYDROGEN DEMANDS: NWR PRESENTS FORECASTS

In order to obtain as realistic a picture as possible of hydrogen demands in Germany for the coming years and decades, the German National Hydrogen Council has collected data and analyzed it in this paper. The demands are based on information provided by the sectors from the process industry, traffic and transport sector and heating market. The data was subsequently checked for plausibility by the NWR. The analysis thus provides a rough but valid overview of expected quantities that will have to be produced domestically or imported to Germany. For 2030 alone, the NWR expects a total demand of 56 to 93 TWh, the majority of which is for the steel industry and heavy-duty transport.

The NWR's analysis also compares the relative CO2 abatement leverage of using hydrogen in different industries. In doing so, the data analysis confirms that climate-neutral hydrogen and climate-neutral hydrogen derivatives are essential to achieving climate goals.

The white paper "Greenhouse gas savings and the associated hydrogen demand in Germany " is available for download here.

Greenhouse gas savings and the associated hydrogen demand in Germany (PDF, 403 KB)

 

NWR PRESENTS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION TO RECRUIT SKILLED WORKERS

On November 4, 2022, the National Hydrogen Council published a new white paper that identifies concrete needs for action to secure skilled workers for the hydrogen economy.

The transformation process towards a hydrogen-based society and industry that lies ahead of us can only be achieved at the desired speed and with economic success if a sufficient number of skilled workers are available. Skilled workers from all fields of education - from skilled workers and technicians to engineers and scientists - are needed, who have the appropriate competencies along the entire value chain in the relevant sectors - production, infrastructure, plants, industry (especially steel and chemical industry), heating, mobility and logistics.

The NWR's white paper "What needs to be done to increase the number of more skilled workers in the hydrogen sector" is available for download here.

What needs to be done to increase the number of more skilled workers in the hydrogen sector (PDF, 90 KB)

Information paper: The need for research and development into the use of hydrogen in the steel industry

The document is an information and basic paper of the NWR. It deals with the research and development needs for the use of hydrogen in the steel industry. The starting point is the challenge in the steel industry to convert fossil input materials and energy sources to climate-neutral alternatives. The use of hydrogen and hydrogen-rich gases will play an important role, especially for the hydrogen-based direct reduction of iron ore, but also in the existing blast furnace process. The R&D needs lie in the modification of existing blast furnace processes, the further development of direct reduction systems for flexible hydrogen operation and in downstream production steps and material issues. Digital modelling of the reduction processes and integrated operational management are to be used to support this. Finally, the document also addresses the topic of the circular economy and the large-scale implementation of direct reduction processes. 

‘The need for research and development into the use of hydrogen in the steel industry’ can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

The need for research and development into the use of hydrogen in the steel industry (PDF, 154 KB)

NWR information and key issues paper on the need for R&D into the use of hydrogen in the chemical industry

The chemical industry is facing the major challenge of transitioning from fossil raw materials and energy sources to climate-neutral alternatives. Hydrogen can and will play a prominent role in this.

However, in order to realise this, several questions still need to be solved. For example, not only does availability have to be ensured, but technological challenges within the chemical process chains also have to be considered. The complexity of this transformation lies in particular in the adaptation of industrial processes, some of which have been established for decades, with high – and currently also unique – hydrogen requirements, such as methanol and ammonia syntheses. In addition, it is also necessary to develop completely new technologies and industrial processes for the defossilisation of the chemical industry. The resulting multitude of research and development topics will need to be addressed prior to industrial implementation. The NWR took up the matter at its most recent meeting and adopted a companion paper.

‘Research and development requirements for the use of hydrogen in the chemical industry’ can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

Research and development requirements for the use of hydrogen in the chemical industry (PDF, 771 KB)

NWR information and key issues paper on the need for R&D into the use of hydrogen in the chemical industry

Die chemische Industrie steht vor der großen Herausforderung, fossile Eingangsstoffe und Energieträger auf

The chemical industry is facing the major challenge of transitioning from fossil raw materials and energy sources to climate-neutral alternatives. Hydrogen can and will play a prominent role in this.

However, in order to realise this, several questions still need to be solved. For example, not only does availability have to be ensured, but technological challenges within the chemical process chains also have to be considered. The complexity of this transformation lies in particular in the adaptation of industrial processes, some of which have been established for decades, with high – and currently also unique – hydrogen requirements, such as methanol and ammonia syntheses. In addition, it is also necessary to develop completely new technologies and industrial processes for the defossilisation of the chemical industry. The resulting multitude of research and development topics will need to be addressed prior to industrial implementation. The NWR took up the matter at its most recent meeting and adopted a companion paper.

‘Research and development requirements for the use of hydrogen in the chemical industry’ can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

Research and development requirements for the use of hydrogen in the chemical industry (PDF, 771 KB)

NWR information paper on the ‘hydrogen rainbow’

Developing a hydrogen market is an essential step in the transition to a climate-neutral economy. There are different views regarding the various possibilities available for producing hydrogen. These include questions relating to the environmental assessment of hydrogen, the quantities available, the associated costs, the opportunities and risks from an industrial and innovation policy perspective as well as the geostrategic implications. Against this backdrop, the NWR has presented a new policy paper designed to provide guidance and assistance to policymakers in making their decisions.

The ‘NWR information paper on the classification of different paths to hydrogen production (‘hydrogen rainbow’)’ can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

Classification of different paths to hydrogen production (‘hydrogen rainbow’) (PDF, 196 KB)

NWR LAYS OUT VIEWS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERGROUND STORAGE FOR HYDROGEN

This document establishes a geographical relationship between the regions with high energy demand and the options available for hydrogen storage. It describes porous storage facilities and gas storages caverns along with their different geological formations, characteristics and the relevant advantages and disadvantages of each storage type. The need to expand existing storage facilities and develop new ones is evaluated based on the projected demand for hydrogen. The document also outlines how they are integrated into the grid infrastructure. After exploring the topics of security of supply, alternative storage options as well as costs, the document concludes with seven investigative reports which policymakers should draw on in adapting the legal framework for future hydrogen storage facilities. The NWR adopted the paper at its meeting on 29 October 2021.

The ‘Hydrogen storage’ paper can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

Importance of underground storage facilities for hydrogen (PDF, 2.14 MB)

NWR stakes position on the question of options and conditions for transporting hydrogen

Hydrogen transport plays a central role in the timely development of a market-based hydrogen economy in Germany. Interregional hydrogen transports connect producers and consumers and integrate the German hydrogen market into a European hydrogen grid. At its meeting on 2 July 2021, the German National Hydrogen Council (NWR) adopted a position paper on options and conditions for transporting hydrogen. 

The ‘Hydrogen transport’ position paper can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

Options and conditions for transporting hydrogen (PDF, 2.96 MB)