The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) has presented a draft law to accelerate the ramp-up of hydrogen. The draft is currently undergoing consultation with the federal states and associations. Comments may be submitted until July 28, 2025.
The aim of the so-called Hydrogen Acceleration Act is to significantly simplify and speed up approval procedures for hydrogen infrastructure. The draft covers the entire supply chain – from production and import to storage and transport. Facilities for the production of electricity-based fuels are also intended to benefit from the new regulations.
Specifically, the draft includes binding deadlines, digital procedures and simplifications in public procurement law. In addition, hydrogen projects are to be classified in future as “of overriding public interest”. This will give them particular weight in administrative balancing decisions. According to the BMWK, the interests of public water supply will be safeguarded.
Another component of the draft is the legal classification of natural hydrogen as a “mineral resource not subject to mining rights” under the Federal Mining Act. This is intended to facilitate projects for the exploration of natural hydrogen deposits.
