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6 April 2021
Publication series – 63 of 66 Insights
Power-to-Hydrogen
- Briefing
Hydrogen Infrastructure
The German Federal Government is picking up pace with the development of hydrogen. By 2025, a total of 700 million Euros will be allocated to three research projects with numerous industrial partners. The goal is to move into large-scale production and use of hydrogen by building production facilities (electrolysers) and corresponding transport infrastructure. Electrolysis is the most sustainable and promising technology for the production of hydrogen. In this process, water molecules (H2O) are basically split using electrical energy into molecular hydrogen and oxygen respectively (power-to-hydrogen). If the required electricity comes from renewable energy sources, no CO2 emissions are generated (so-called green hydrogen). Hydrogen not only allows energy to be (temporarily) stored and transported over long distances, but - in addition to being converted back into electricity by using fuel cells - could also directly replace fossil fuels in industry and logistics. It can therefore make a significant overall contribution to reducing emissions and achieving climate targets.Question: Where can production plants for green hydrogen be built?
Response: In principle, production plants for green hydrogen can be built both onshore as well as offshore. In addition to potentially larger space capacities, production at sea would also have the advantage that offshore wind farms can generate on a more regular basis greater volumes of electricity than onshore wind farms. Moreover, if the generated energy is fully converted to hydrogen, costly grid connections are no longer necessary. In connection with floating foundations, this opens up completely new possibilities, since both water depth and distance to the coast would no longer be limiting factors. Hydrogen could be transported by ship from offshore wind farms all over the world. Existing wind farms could be combined with energy islands or onshore production plants where electricity cannot be directly fed into the grid. In this way, the now common short-term (partial) shutdowns of offshore wind farms in case of grid congestion could be significantly reduced and energy output increased, without building additional generation facilities.Question: Are there any special requirements for the construction and operation of the hydrogen production plants?
Response: Our experience in chemical plant construction shows that a special focus will be on the commissioning of the plants and the question of how performance parameters such as efficiency and purity levels can be demonstrated during trial operation and performance tests and the legal consequences associated with this. In case of offshore construction, the typical challenges already known from the industry, such as the complex logistical set up including weather, but also increased requirements for materials and maintenance need to be taken into account. Here, however, one can rely on existing industry experience from offshore wind as well as oil and gas production.Question: Do we need a new infrastructure for the transport of hydrogen?
Response: Hydrogen facilitates the transport of (renewable) energy without electricity grids. In addition to pipelines, hydrogen could be transported by ship, rail and lorry which would, however, require a considerable expansion of corresponding terminals and transshipment points. According to the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft e.V. (BDEW), the existing natural gas infrastructure, including caverns, can also be used for hydrogen storage. Germany has the largest gas storage capacities in the European Union. Hydrogen could thus be stored and transported via the existing gas networks. Even if it currently remains undecided which means of transport will emerge and become established in the ongoing research projects, new large-scale projects are predicted. Plant and infrastructure construction contractors are already preparing for this.Do you have any questions or are you interested in an (interdisciplinary) discussion on hydrogen infrastructure? The experts from our international Energy & Infrastructure group have a comprehensive overview of the market and the latest developments and can provide support in drafting and negotiating all relevant agreements (e.g. EPC, EPCM, O&M and SMA) as well as on all regulatory topics, such as privileges and subsidies under the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) or on grid regulation.
In this series
FIDIC – An introduction to the FIDIC Suite 2017
22 October 2025
by Multiple authors
The Renewable Energy Expansion Acceleration Act – a boost for the energy transition in Austria?
23 September 2025
Federal Network Agency discussion paper on reforming grid fees for industry and commerce
25 September 2025
by Multiple authors
German-Dutch Treaty on Cross-Border Energy Projects
18 September 2025
by Multiple authors
Energy communities in Austria and the new Electricity Industry Act (ElWG)
15 September 2025
New amendment to the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) introduced in July and August 2025
8 September 2025
Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) – a new state aid framework for the green transformation of industry
8 September 2025
by Dr. Michael Brüggemann, Johannes Schaadt-Wambach, LL.M. (Prag)
Industrial electricity prices: initial assessment and opportunities for businesses
18 August 2025
by Johannes Schaadt-Wambach, LL.M. (Prag), Dr. Markus Böhme, LL.M. (Nottingham)
Regulatory Framework for Transmission System Operators in Germany
18 August 2025
by Multiple authors
Court ruling on the effectiveness of availability guarantees for wind turbines
31 July 2025
New Legal Framework for the Commercial Use of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU)
11 July 2025
by Multiple authors
Are offshore wind converter platforms a bottleneck in the energy transition? New German government wants to create production capacities at German shipyards
17 June 2025
by Multiple authors
Speeding up the energy transition - the new German government’s plans for gas and steam power plants and its quest for the right technology for renewable energy
8 May 2025
by Multiple authors
Update - Change of government opens the door to carbon capture and storage and carbon capture and utilisation
17 April 2025
by Multiple authors
The special fund for infrastructure and climate protection - what is next?
10 April 2025
by Multiple authors
Changes to CBAM through Omnibus legislative package
10 April 2025
The role of heat probes in the energy transition: Authorisation procedures and potential
26 March 2025
CJEU judgement on customer installations in accordance with Section 3 No. 24a Law on the Energy Industry EnWG
26 March 2025
by Dr. Markus Böhme, LL.M. (Nottingham), Dr. Christian Ertel
Will the new German government open the door for carbon capture and storage?
26 February 2025
by Multiple authors
Waste heat from data centres - new reporting obligations under the EnEfG
6 February 2025
by Multiple authors
Oman and Belgium Sign Landmark MoU on Green Hydrogen Cooperation
11 December 2024
Decision day: Grid fee exemption in customer systems and energy price brake put to the test
28 November 2024
by Dr. Christian Ertel, Dr. Markus Böhme, LL.M. (Nottingham)
Hydrogen core network - The Federal Network Agency’s strategy for the energy transition
11 November 2024
by Multiple authors
Amendment to the Energy Industry Act: changes for energy supply companies and grid and system operators
18 September 2024
by Dr. Christian Ertel, Dr. Markus Böhme, LL.M. (Nottingham)
Standard Essential Patents: A new challenge for the IoT and smart meter world
10 September 2024
Land acquisition and data protection: The importance of the GDPR when project developers request owner data
18 July 2024
by Dr. Patrick Vincent Zurheide, LL.M. (Aberdeen), Dr. Julia Wulff
Municipalities to share profit in wind turbines and ground-mounted photovoltaic systems
11 July 2024
by Multiple authors
Solar Package I - Overview of Changes to Ground-Mounted and Building-Mounted PV Systems
27 May 2024
Mandatory special charge for open space photovoltaic systems in Brandenburg
21 February 2024
by Multiple authors
A new era for wind energy investments in Hungary
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
26 January 2024
Updating the National Hydrogen Strategy
6 November 2023
by Dr. Niels L. Lange, LL.M. (Stellenbosch), Dr. Janina Pochhammer
The new CO2 border adjustment mechanism (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism - “CBAM”) - first statutory reporting obligations set for January 2024
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
3 November 2023
New IT security requirements for the energy sector
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
1 September 2023
by Dr. Paul Voigt, Lic. en Derecho, CIPP/E, Alexander Schmalenberger, LL.B.
Does monument protection hinder the expansion of renewable energies?
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
16 August 2023
The amending law to strengthen digitisation in the urban land use planning process and the further expansion of renewable energies
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
6 July 2023
Challenges for data center operators - The federal government’s draft bill for an energy efficiency act
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
12 April 2023
by Multiple authors
The Energy Charter Treaty in the Light of the Electricity Price Brake: An opportunity for investors to litigate?
27 January 2023
Ordinance for Determining Critical Infrastructures (KritisV): Renewable energy plants as critical infrastructure and requirements for IT protection
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
12 July 2022
by Dr. Paul Voigt, Lic. en Derecho, CIPP/E, Dr. Markus Böhme, LL.M. (Nottingham)
Liquefied Natural Gas Projects in Germany: The LNG Acceleration Act
Q&A series: Energy & Infrastructure
10 June 2022
Participation of local municipalities in the context of wind and photovoltaic projects
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
5 May 2022
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up – France
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
27 April 2022
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up - United Kingdom
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
15 March 2022
Building energy performance: the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
14 February 2022
Fit for 55 – Hydrogen and the Reform of the European Gas Market
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
11 January 2022
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up – Netherlands
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
2 December 2021
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up – Poland
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
21 September 2021
by Olav Nemling
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up – Austria
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
18 August 2021
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up - Germany
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
12 July 2021
Floating Foundations for Offshore Wind Farms
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
8 June 2021
Species protection exemption: Significance for wind energy
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
25 May 2021
Power-to-Hydrogen
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
6 April 2021
Focus PV – Floating Solar and Agrivoltaics
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
23 March 2021
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Speeding up the energy transition - the new German government’s plans for gas and steam power plants and its quest for the right technology for renewable energy
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