SEO Riders:
– Draft bill designates hydrogen pipelines and storage as “overriding public interest” to fast-track development.
– €19–24 bn core network across ~9,000 km by 2032 backed by KfW support & federal amortisation fund.
– Fixed tariffs, capped fees, and infrastructure financing aim to enable industrial decarbonisation and cross-border imports.
Germany’s Economy Ministry has unveiled a draft bill classifying hydrogen infrastructure—pipelines, storage, electrolyzers, import terminals—as projects of “overriding public interest,” aiming to speed up planning, approval, and procurement processes. The move comes amid growing recognition that climate-neutral hydrogen is essential to decarbonizing sectors like steel and chemicals. However, current supply is limited and costly, which the bill seeks to address by fast-tracking key infrastructure.
The refreshed strategy also includes a €19 billion core hydrogen network spanning some 9,000 km by 2032, leveraging ~60% repurposed gas pipelines. Initiatives like a €24 billion amortisation fund via KfW and a capped annual tariff system will bridge investment gaps during early stages, making the network financeable and attractive to private investors. The first pipeline segments are expected online as early as 2025, while the bill also outlines strategies for cross-border integration, enabling Germany to import up to 100 TWh of green hydrogen by 2035 through EU networks.
