Germany's share of renewable energies in the electricity mix is over 20 percent and rapidly ncreasing. The federal government expects renewable energies to account for 35 percent of Germany's electricity mix by 2020, 50 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050. According to the German Energy Agency, multi-billion euro investments in energy storage are expected by 2020 in order to reach these goals. The growth of this fluctuating energy supply has created demand for innovative storage technology in Germany and is accelerating its development. Along with battery and smart grid technologies, hydrogen is expected to be one of the lead technologies. The German Hy study -commissioned by he German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building, and Urban Affairs-provides a road map for the development of a hydrogen infrastructure. At the same time, the German ederal states - namely Brandenburg, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein - are also examining the feasibility of generating and commercializing hydrogen from wind energy hrough electrolysis. The New Berlin Brandenburg International Airport, which is slated to open in 2012, serves as a benchmark project for hydrogen developments. It will feature an ntegrated energy storage concept that includes a fueling station for green hydrogen serving both stationary and mobile applications, which will be built by Total and Enertrag. Deutsche Bahn AG is also active in this field. Hydrogen in combination with renewable energy generation provides the focal point in the next generation of rail mobility. The Germany Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water sees opportunities for hydrogen to be fed into the existing natural gas grid. According to the current DVGW- Standards natural gas in Germany can contain a volume of 5 to 9,9 percent hydrogen. This could serve both for fuel and for the storage of extra energy produced by renewable sources. This hydrogen could then be drawn upon to provide electricity by means of CCGT combined cycle gas turbines) or CHP (combined heat and power) using for example fuel cells. The name of this concept is PowertoGas. Several demonstration projects will be olled out till 2013 in order to develop business models (for storage, production and trade of "green Gas") and devices (Electrolyzers, fuel cells, smart gas metering, compressors, pipes and storage devices) that will enable the implementation of this concept on a broad scale. Germany is pioneer in this field. Further countries in Europe like France, the Scandinavian countries and UK are also developing H2 based smart solutions and can benefit from the experience of German project participants, value chain and RnD institutes.
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