Pressemitteilung -
Die Gas- und Wasserstoffwirtschaft Calls for Adjustments to Climate Protection Agreements
On the occasion of the hearing of associations on the amendment of the funding guideline for climate protection contracts, Dr. Timm Kehler, CEO of Die Gas- und Wasserstoffwirtschaft (The German Gas and Hydrogen Industry), explains:
“The planned changes to the funding guidelines for climate protection contracts pose a serious threat to a truly technology-neutral and effective transformation of the industry. In particular, the exclusion of synthetic methane (e-NG) and the possibility of revoking funding decisions in the event of a lack of budget funds are unacceptable.
The exclusion of e-NG contradicts European regulations, in particular the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2493, and represents a step backwards for German climate policy. At European level, e-NG is recognized as a climate-neutral gas and assessed with an emission factor of zero. It is therefore all the more incomprehensible that e-NG is treated like fossil natural gas in the climate protection agreements - a clear contradiction to the European requirements. It also seems particularly absurd that the direct use of e-NG is not eligible for funding, while hydrogen produced from e-NG is eligible.
Another critical aspect is the rule that funding decisions can be revoked if budget funds are not available. Such uncertainty undermines the confidence of companies and jeopardizes urgently needed investments in climate-neutral technologies. Reliable framework conditions are essential to ensure a successful transformation of the industry.
We are therefore calling for a clear adjustment of the climate protection agreements: e-NG must be assessed with an emission factor of zero in accordance with European requirements. In addition, the regulation on the possibility of revoking funding decisions must be deleted without replacement. These adjustments are necessary in order to effectively use the climate protection agreements to decarbonize the industry and at the same time secure Germany's competitiveness as an industrial location in the long term.”
Kategorien
Als Stimme der Branche bündelt der Verband DIE GAS- UND WASSERSTOFFWIRTSCHAFT e.V. die Interessen seiner Mitglieder und setzt sich dafür ein, dass die Potenziale von Wasserstoff und seiner Derivate sowie Biogas und Erdgas inklusive der dazugehörigen Infrastruktur genutzt werden. Zudem informiert er über die Chancen, die gasförmige Energieträger für ein klimaneutrales als auch resilientes Energiesystem bieten, und treibt die Transformation der Branche hin zu neuen Gasen voran. Der Verband wird von führenden Unternehmen der Energiewirtschaft getragen und umfasst die gesamte Wertschöpfungskette von Produktion, Transport, Verteilung bis hin zu Handel, Vertrieb und Anwendungen. Weitere Branchenverbände und Industrieunternehmen unterstützen ihn als Partner.
