How Early Climate Leadership Locked Germany Into The Wrong Hydrogen Bet - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica examines how Germany’s early climate leadership led it to heavily invest in hydrogen as a key element of its decarbonization strategy—a decision rooted in the context of the 1990s and early 2000s when climate risks were recognized but clean technology options were limited. At that time, wind and solar power were costly and less developed, batteries were expensive and low in energy density, and grid-scale storage was minimal. Hydrogen, by contrast, was already widely produced and used industrially, with existing infrastructure and safety protocols. It promised multiple benefits: seasonal storage, energy transport via pipelines, and use in long-range vehicles, making it a seemingly cautious and rational choice for a low-carbon future. This early adoption turned hydrogen from a technology option into a strategic pillar, embedding it deeply into Germany’s policies, industry coalitions, vocational training, and regulatory frameworks. However, as the 2000s progressed, the economic and efficiency realities of green hydrogen became clearer.