More hydrogen funding in draft govt climate action programme

Germany’s government is planning to support up to four gigawatt (GW) electrolyser capacity and wants to get rid of the last inland flights for the postal service, according to a draft of the new immediate action programme of climate measures. The document, seen by Clean Energy Wire, lists around 100 measures aimed to ensure Germany meets its 2030 climate target of reducing emissions by 65 percent of 1990 levels, and gets back on track for climate neutrality by 2045. The government had promised the programme in its coalition deal and said it would be put on the way by the end of this year (2022). Hydrogen projects sized between 20 and 100 megawatt will be able to receive CAPEX support, which aims to achieve a cost degression for these installations and make Germany a leading market for hydrogen technology. The government wants to see 10 GW of electrolyser capacity installed by 2030.

To get rid of dumping prices for flight tickets, the government will push at EU level to forbid prices that are below the costs of taxes, surcharges and fees. It will also change the expected delivery time of letters so that the postal service can abandon air transport in favour of less climate-damaging alternatives.

Many of the listed policies are part of ongoing law reforms, for example the overhaul of the renewable energies act (EEG); prescribing a strong expansion of the country’s renewables capacity; and a reform of building efficiency rules. The Council of Experts on Climate Change will assess the action programme and its effect on greenhouse gas emissions once a final version is decided by the government cabinet, writes Tagesspiegel Background.