Overview
- Auditors conclude Germany is unlikely to meet 2030 domestic hydrogen production goals and that imports will not cover the shortfall.
- State support has not delivered the expected industrial uptake, with demand lagging especially in the steel sector.
- Energy Minister Katherina Reiche’s move to drop hydrogen‑readiness for new gas plants removes a key demand signal, the report says.
- The planned privately operated hydrogen “Kernnetz,” funded through capped user fees and a state‑backed amortisation account, could leave the federal budget exposed if demand stays weak.
- With €4.3 billion allocated in 2024 and more than €3 billion in 2025, the watchdog urges tighter monitoring and a Plan B, noting doubts about climate benefits from imports due to upstream emissions and relaxed tender requirements.