Germany – Statement on the government draft of the Hydrogen Act
The German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) welcomes the draft legislation’s goal of accelerating the development of hydrogen infrastructure, but sees a significant need for improvement in several areas. Crucially, the scope of application must be substantially expanded, particularly to include low-carbon hydrogen and additional plant and import structures. Without these adjustments, key acceleration effects risk being lost.
Furthermore, the BDEW calls for preferential planning law provisions for hydrogen plants, the removal of the time limit for “overriding public interest” in the core network, clear regulations for rapid gas pipeline repairs, and additional substantive legal simplifications, for example, in nature conservation law. A clear exemption for hydrogen infrastructure from public procurement law is also demanded.
Public water supply must be clearly prioritized legally and protected in a way that is manageable in practice. Finally, the BDEW emphasizes the necessary expansion of the personnel and technical capacities of the authorities.
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Germany – Statement on the government draft of the Hydrogen Act, source
