Hydrogen Potential Atlas: New opportunities for Germany's energy future!

Hydrogen Potential Atlas: New opportunities for Germany's energy future!

On May 21, 2025, an innovative hydrogen potential atlas was published to pave the way for the use of green hydrogen in Germany. The project management lies with Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, while a consortium of research institutions, companies and associations is involved in the development. The atlas, which was created as part of the “PoWerD” project, specifically assesses locations for the production of green hydrogen through electrolysis and aims to optimize water use in various industrial sectors and transport.

A central aspect of the atlas is the analysis of the oxygen demand at wastewater treatment plants, which plays an important role in the hydrogen supply. Hydrogen itself is seen as a key technology for sector coupling between electricity, heat, transport and industry. In this context, the EU hydrogen strategy aims to achieve an electrolyser capacity of 40 gigawatts by 2030.

Location assessment and energy availability

The atlas identifies suitable locations for electrolysers in Germany, based on the hydrogen demand in industry (e.g. chemicals, steel) and in transport (buses, trains). Other considerations include the availability of renewable energy in each region. In this context, northern Germany benefits from higher wind speeds, which lead to cost advantages in hydrogen production.

The atlas also looks at the co-products oxygen and heat. The oxygen produced can be used in wastewater treatment plants to reduce energy consumption. A detailed estimate of oxygen demand is carried out for wastewater treatment plants with more than 2000 inhabitants, which illustrates the functional interdependence between hydrogen production and municipal energy needs.

Technological framework and infrastructure

The Hydrogen Atlas is not just a statistical tool, but an interactive web app that is part of a... Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) funded project was developed. This digital platform is intended to make research results and data on the use of hydrogen and Power-to-X technologies in Germany publicly accessible. Development began in 2021 and included numerous adjustments to optimize usability and information content.

The app enables decision-makers from politics and business as well as interested citizens to follow current developments and potential in the field of hydrogen up to 2050. Comprehensive data on processes such as electrolysis, methanol production and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis are available.

With the publication of the Hydrogen Potential Atlas, a significant step is taken towards a sustainable energy system in Germany, which sets the course for the increased use of hydrogen as a sustainable energy source. The project funding through the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) with 2.5 million euros reinforces the federal government's commitment to driving forward the energy transition.