Germany's H2Global initiative will launch its first auctions for imports of renewable ammonia, e-methanol and sustainable aviation fuel "right after" the Cop 27 UN climate conference which runs until 18 November, German chancellor Olaf Scholz said today in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Berlin gave "the final go-ahead" for the first tender process last week, Scholz said.
The H2Global initiative is to facilitate imports of renewable hydrogen — initially as derivatives from outside of the EU — under 10-year contracts and then sell it on to consumers through subsequent tenders for shorter-term deals. H2Global will cover the likely price differentials through funds provided by the government.
Scholz reiterated today that Germany will spend more than €4bn on the scheme in the coming years. The first round will use €900mn split roughly evenly between the three different products, while Berlin has earmarked €3.6bn for future tenders in its 2023 draft budget.
H2Global previously said that first deliveries of supply contracted in the initial auction round could be made by 2024. Supply can be delivered to ports in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, and from there to anywhere in the EU. The scheme has drawn strong interest from within the EU and elsewhere. The Netherlands recently said it plans to contribute funds for future H2Global tender rounds.
