Why Swiss electricians are fully committed to green hydrogen Digitec employees should work at night – wages are low and pressure is high

For a long time energy was available in abundance and cheaply. That is why, in Switzerland in particular, far too little has been done for the future energy supply. In terms of the expansion of renewables, it was one of the taillights in a European comparison. The energy companies preferred to invest in foreign projects such as offshore wind farms.

The current energy crisis, caused by the war in Ukraine and Russia’s ban on gas supplies to Europe, has suddenly exacerbated the problem. In haste, the federal government developed savings plans, some of which led to alienation. Politicians have also recognized the need for action, as evidenced by the solar offensive approved by Parliament.

The central question is how a secure and at the same time climate-neutral energy supply can be achieved in the long term. The study “Energy Future 2050”, presented on Tuesday by the Association of Swiss Electricity Works (VSE) together with Empa, gives food for thought. It provides a scientifically modeled basis.

“mainstay” for Winterstrom

Many things that have been neglected so far need to be caught up very quickly. One aspect is surprising at first glance: for security of supply, especially in winter, green hydrogen should become a “mainstay” alongside hydropower and photovoltaics. Until now, hydrogen has been considered a secondary energy source for Switzerland.

The drawbacks seemed too great. Hydrogen-powered cars are significantly less economical than electric vehicles. The production is complex and hydrogen is considered a not unproblematic source of energy. However, experts consider this problem exaggerated and consider hydrogen no more dangerous than oil, gas or uranium.

Switzerland only suitable to a limited extent

The use of hydrogen for heating or driving with fuel cells is not a priority for the electricity companies anyway. “The imported green hydrogen is mainly used in gas-fired power stations to generate electricity,” according to the study. In the best possible scenario, 20 percent of winter demand could be covered.

It is clear that Switzerland can only produce green hydrogen to a limited extent. At best, this is possible in the summer, when more electricity is produced than consumed. Most of it therefore has to be imported. The VSE relies on “the emerging European hydrogen infrastructure”.

Ambitious goals of the EU

The European Union has set itself ambitious goals as part of its Green Deal. She launched the European Alliance for Clean Hydrogen and wants to generate at least 40 gigawatts with electrolysis by 2030. The same amount would come from outside the EU, mainly from the sun-rich regions of North Africa and the Middle East.

Concrete plans exist in the Sultanate of Oman. It wants to produce green hydrogen on a large scale using solar energy. The first tender was only recently issued. The hydrogen can be exported via existing liquefied gas (LNG) terminals, VSE director Michael Frank said at the media conference in Bern on Tuesday.

Distribution network must be created first

There is not yet a hydrogen network in Europe. Nevertheless, “it can be assumed with high probability that such a backbone will emerge in Europe,” the study said. Empa researcher Matthias Sulzer is convinced that green hydrogen “will be available in large quantities through a European infrastructure from 2040”.

Not everyone shares this optimism, but the current energy crisis in particular could boost the EU’s hydrogen plans. Critics also doubt whether sufficient green hydrogen will be available and whether people will remain dependent on ‘grey’ hydrogen, which is produced from natural gas or methane.

High-efficiency electrolysis

This cannot be called climate neutral. Nevertheless, the authors of the study by VSE and Empa are convinced of the potential of green hydrogen. Its production requires significantly less energy than that of synthetic fuels. And electrolysis, or the splitting of water, has a relatively high efficiency.

It remains uncertain whether hydrogen will play a role in the energy supply in 2050, the study acknowledges. But most alternatives are not convincing, such as nuclear power. Today’s reactor types can be forgotten, an industry representative said on the sidelines of the media conference: too expensive, too little acceptance.

Energy agreement with the EU

The Small Modular Reactors (SMR) advocated by Bill Gates and others are currently nothing more than a promise. Betting on them would be quite risky. And despite the “thrill” announced on Tuesday, there is still a long way to go before nuclear fusion can be used to reliably and cheaply generate energy in large quantities.

The biggest obstacle remains the integration of Switzerland in the European hydrogen network. It is clear to Michael Frank that Switzerland needs not only an electricity deal with the EU, but also an energy deal. And for that, according to the EU Commission in Brussels, the institutional issues must first be clarified.

In concrete terms, a framework agreement is needed and politicians are having a hard time with that. It is doubtful that she will listen to the admonitions of the electricity industry. Her request has so far fallen on deaf ears.