Hydrogen Economy
„The successful market launch of hydrogen requires pioneering spirit and expertise“
The market launch of hydrogen and hydrogen technologies requires substantial investments and a pioneering spirit. Setting up and operating hydrogen projects take place in a highly dynamic environment, in which the regulatory framework of the market conditions at national and European level is subject to far-reaching adjustments.
Relying on our specific knowledge of the key industries and our economic and political experience, we provide advice for projects in all stages – from strategic planning up to industrial implementation.
Our expertise covers the entire hydrogen value chain – including generation of electricity from renewables, hydrogen production, hydrogen infrastructure for transport and storage as well as the use of hydrogen in the industry, transport and heating sectors.
Hydrogen Production
- Hydrogen production plants such as electrolysers can be constructed on-site and off-site and can be integrated into existing plants and processes within the framework of sector coupling. The planning and realisation of plants requiring approval in accordance with the relevant laws is one of our long-standing core competencies: We are familiar with all relevant topics of planning, immission control and building law as well as the requirements for the integration of new plants into existing structures such as refineries or industrial parks.
- approval in accordance with the relevant laws is one of our long-standing core competencies: We are familiar with all relevant topics of planning, immission control and building law as well as the requirements for the integration of new plants into existing structures such as refineries or industrial parks.
- Industrial hydrogen production requires additional capacities for electricity generation from renewable energies, especially from offshore wind power. We have been dealing with energy production from renewable energy sources, particularly in the offshore wind energy sector, from the very beginning and are familiar with all energy and environmental law – related issues, ranging from the tendering procedures and technical planning to the construction and operation of renewable energy plants.
Hydrogen Infrastructure
- The secure supply of consumption centers with hydrogen as well as the import and export of hydrogen within the European energy market require sufficient and secure transport and storage capacities for hydrogen. To this end, the existing European gas infrastructure must be made “H2-ready” and additional hydrogen infrastructure such as pipelines and storage units must be newly constructed and/or expanded.
- In addition, hydrogen-specific questions arise with regard to ensuring the hydrogen compatibility of the gas infrastructure, concerning the regulatory requirements for models of cooperation between hydrogen production and the gas industry as well as on setting future national and European standards for hydrogen.
- We advise during all stages from planning and approval to operation and plant utilisation, on environmental and planning law as well as energy law.
Hydrogen in industry
- European and national emission trading increases the pressure on industry to take measures towards decarbonisation. Hydrogen is capable of becoming the key technology for reducing process-related emissions through the use of hydrogen technologies or by replacing the conventional energy carriers with hydrogen.
- We provide comprehensive advice on the various economic fields of application of hydrogen within the framework of sector coupling, including the planning and implementation of decarbonisation measures. It also includes advice on generation of downstream products in conjunction with process-related CO2 emissions (e.g. Carbon Capture and Utilisation, CCU) through further Power-to-X applications.
- The German National Hydrogen Strategy envisages the promotion of electrolysers and the transition to hydrogen technologies (e.g. within the framework of Carbon Contracts for Difference, CCfD). We have been supporting clients since the very beginning, in the context of the “Reallabore der Energiewende” (real-world laboratories of the energy transition) and are familiar with the challenges innovative pilot projects face as well as with the requirements of governmental funding instruments.
Hydrogen Mobility
- Hydrogen is used for “fuel cell–powered” mobility in transport and logistics as well as for fuel production (power-to-liquid), especially for power-based kerosene and modern fuels for road, rail and maritime transport.
- We advise on all issues concerning the use of hydrogen in road and air transport as well concerning rail and maritime mobility. We are familiar with all aspects of product and approval law, especially as regards the type-approval procedure for hydrogen based vehicles and the approval and crediting of electricity-based fuels against CO2 reduction quotas.
- The expansion of hydrogen mobility is inextricably linked with the construction of an efficient and demand-oriented refuelling and charging infrastructure for hydrogen and electricity-based fuels. We provide strategic advice on these matters as well as during concrete planning and approval procedures.
Hydrogen in the heating sector
- Hydrogen is already used in the building sector and in the operation of fuel cell heating systems. In the future, the low-emission use of hydrogen in CHP plants will also play a significant role. For this purpose, power plants must be made “H2-ready”. The German National Hydrogen Strategy provides for first incentives to promote this development. We provide strategic advice on such matters as well as during pilot projects and with regard to concrete planning and approval procedures.
