Hydrogen Acceleration Act

Last week, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWK) presented the Draft Law for a new Hydrogen Acceleration Act (Wasserstoffbeschleunigungsgesetz).

📄 The Draft Law is available via this link.

✅ Key Points:

📌 Broader Scope Beyond Green Hydrogen

• Unlike previous strategies focused solely on green hydrogen, the new Draft Law grants equal treatment to both green and blue hydrogen.
• Projects producing blue H2 from natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS) may now benefit from acceleration measures.

📌 Support Across the Entire Hydrogen Value Chain

The Act aims to fast-track:

• Electrolyser deployment
• Hydrogen imports and derivatives (e.g., ammonia, methanol)
• PtX plants for e-fuel production
• Hydrogen storage and transport infrastructure

📌 Natural Hydrogen Recognition

• Natural hydrogen will be classified as a non-mineable mineral resource under the Federal Mining Act (Bundesberggesetz).
• This change simplifies project development by removing the need for contracts with landowners—similar to how resources like coal or natural gas are handled.

📌 Accelerated Permitting

• No public hearing (Erörterungstermin) will take place during the approval process.
• A planning approval decision (Planfeststellungsbeschluss) must be issued within 12 months.
• A planning permit (Plangenehmigung) must be granted within 7 months.

📅 Consultation Period:

• The BMWK is accepting feedback from federal states and industry associations until 28 July 2025.