A recent survey conducted on behalf of the Baden-Wuerttemberg state's environmental government reveals that the region, which hosts a significant portion of Germany's industrial sector, is set to require a staggering 52 terawatt-hours (TWh) of hydrogen by 2032. This forecast surpasses earlier estimates by a considerable margin, underlining the growing role of hydrogen in the region's energy landscape.
The survey, encompassing 474 businesses within Baden-Wuerttemberg, demonstrated that the demand for hydrogen in the state far exceeds previous projections. According to the latest analysis, the hydrogen demand between 2025 and 2040 is expected to be twice as much as estimated in a survey conducted just two years ago. The current projections point to a demand of 73 TWh in 2035 and a remarkable 91 TWh by 2040.
Initially, hydrogen demand will primarily originate from the industrial sector, with a gradual transition to the energy sector, which is expected to become the largest consumer of hydrogen, demanding 40 TWh in 2035 and an impressive 53 TWh in 2040. In contrast, the transport sector's share in the overall demand is expected to be limited, as hydrogen will primarily be utilized in heavy commercial vehicles.
The state's Energy Minister, Thekla Walker, emphasized the significance of recent efforts to expand hydrogen infrastructure. Walker stated, “The focus of the last few months on expanding the infrastructure with expert dialogues, top-level discussions, and a joint declaration has proven to be correct. We now have a good basis for further planning of an efficient hydrogen infrastructure.”
The comprehensive survey was conducted in collaboration with transmission system operator terranets bw, the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Wuerttemberg (ZSW), and the H2BW platform.
Baden-Wuerttemberg, which adopted its Hydrogen Roadmap in 2020, has allocated approximately EUR 500 million (equivalent to USD 534.3 million) in funding for various projects within the state, with numerous demonstration initiatives already in progress. This forward-looking approach positions Baden-Wuerttemberg as a key player in Germany's hydrogen transition, poised to meet the rising demand for this versatile and sustainable energy carrier.
