German utility RWE, one of Europe’s biggest players in hydrogen, today urged governments and the EU to provide clarity on how the transport of hydrogen will be regulated.

“Without it, it will be impossible to ramp up the hydrogen industry in Germany and the EU in general,” said RWE chief executive Rolf Martin Schmitz today.

He warned that German plans to separately design, regulate and finance the country’s gas and hydrogen networks would hinder integration of the two industries.

“Without [clarity], it will be impossible to ramp up the hydrogen industry in Germany and the EU in general” Schmitz, RWE

“There are also uncertainties regarding the extent of the expected grid fees and investment security for the network operators,” he added in a speech made during the firm’s annual results presentation.

The Essen-based company is one of Europe’s most engaged hydrogen actors, with involvement in 30 projects in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. This includes European mega-projects such as AquaVentus, the North Sea initiative to build 10GW of offshore wind-powered electrolysis capacity, and NortH2, a Netherlands-based initiative to build more than 10GW of green hydrogen generation capacity also sourcing offshore wind power.

RWE is also involved in plans to import hydrogen via Germany’s proposed Brunsbuettel LNG terminal as well as in the South Wales Industrial Cluster that includes the potential development of a hydrogen economy.

Senior appointment

RWE has placed hydrogen at the heart of its growth strategy. Last month RWE Generation, the part of the business responsible for electricity production, appointed a board member dedicated to hydrogen.

Sopna Sury took up her role on the board on 1 February and is tasked with better pooling the skills are RWE needed to drive forward hydrogen projects and to forge alliances. She is leading a newly created hydrogen division that develops and implements the company’s hydrogen strategy.

The power company has started building a strong hydrogen position across the nascent hydrogen industry’s value chain. It produces green electricity to supply hydrogen electrolysers, is involved in building large electrolyser projects and is able to store hydrogen in existing gas infrastructure, and its trading business has experience in selling the fuel to industrial customers.

“This unique selling point makes us an attractive partner,” Schmitz said.

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Author: Karolin Schaps