Hydrogen heating, promoted by the gas industry as a sustainable alternative, faces skepticism from experts who warn of hidden costs for consumers. Studies suggest hydrogen is inefficient compared to heat pumps and other systems, requiring significantly more electricity. While green hydrogen is essential for certain industries, its application in residential heating remains questionable. Some municipal utilities are shifting away from hydrogen, reflecting broader doubts about its viability, despite financial support for hydrogen infrastructure from the European Commission.
The Hydrogen Heating Debate: A Costly Illusion?
The gas industry is advocating for hydrogen heating as a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels. However, experts are sounding the alarm about potential hidden costs for consumers.
Under the enticing slogan ‘Good for the climate, good for the wallet,’ Netze Südwest, a gas distribution network operator in Baden-Württemberg, promotes hydrogen heating on its website. They claim that adopting H2-ready gas heaters offers households an economical path towards climate neutrality. Yet, this assertion is met with skepticism from industry experts.
H2-ready heaters are designed to accommodate a mixture of up to 20 percent hydrogen in the gas supply; all current models are compatible. Some can be modified to use 100 percent hydrogen, which aligns with upcoming heating regulations. While ‘green hydrogen’—produced through renewable electricity by splitting water—holds promise for climate neutrality, scientists warn that its use for heating will likely remain a costly option.
Efficiency Concerns Surrounding Hydrogen Heating
Germany aims for climate neutrality by 2045, but decentralized hydrogen heating is deemed inefficient. Numerous independent studies highlight that hydrogen heating is not a viable economic solution. Jan Rosenow, an energy policy expert from the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), has reviewed over sixty studies and found no evidence supporting hydrogen heating as a cost-effective future option. In contrast, heat pumps, district heating systems, and improved building insulation outperform hydrogen in efficiency.
According to Rosenow, utilizing green hydrogen requires significantly more electricity—five to six times that of air heat pumps. For instance, while a heat pump can convert one kilowatt-hour of electricity into approximately three units of heat, hydrogen heating yields only half a unit of heat for the same amount of electricity. This discrepancy necessitates a greater number of wind turbines and solar power installations, ultimately leading to higher costs for consumers.
Green hydrogen is anticipated to remain limited for the foreseeable future. A recent study published in Nature Energy indicates that global production is falling short of projected goals. Energy expert Benjamin Pfluger from the Fraunhofer Institute underscores that green hydrogen is essential for industries lacking sustainable alternatives, like steel and chemicals, and for gas power plants that balance electricity supply during low production periods.
The push for H2-ready heaters raises concerns about a potential financial trap for consumers. Rosenow criticizes the gas industry’s promotion of these heaters as misleading. Although they may have the capability to use hydrogen, there’s no certainty that this will be realized. Consumers should be wary, as the transition to hydrogen may initially involve continued reliance on fossil natural gas, which is set to become more expensive due to CO2 pricing.
Political scientist Christina Deckwirth from LobbyControl argues that the gas lobby’s focus on hydrogen is an attempt to preserve their existing business model. This narrative creates a false sense of security, allowing current practices to persist rather than pushing for meaningful change towards climate neutrality.
While some municipal utilities are beginning to recognize the limitations of hydrogen for heating, the gas lobby’s influence remains strong. Notably, several utilities have distanced themselves from the lobby organization ‘Zukunft Gas,’ now known as ‘The Gas and Hydrogen Industry.’ The energy supplier MVV plans to decommission the Mannheim gas network by 2035, signaling a shift in perspective.
The European Commission is also backing Germany with financial support for hydrogen infrastructure development, indicating some potential for future applications of hydrogen in heating.
Despite the challenges, there are scenarios where hydrogen could play a constructive role in heating. For example, utilizing waste heat from hydrogen electrolyzers in district heating networks presents a practical opportunity. Additionally, hydrogen could complement heat generated from large heat pumps or solar thermal energy during peak demand periods, although relying on it for residential heating remains questionable.
Recent evaluations of heating plans from over 120 municipalities in Baden-Württemberg confirm that hydrogen is rarely considered for residential heating, further illustrating the skepticism surrounding its widespread adoption.
This topic was highlighted in a report by SWR ‘Wissen aktuell – Impuls’ on January 28, 2025.