If a mass-market roll-out of hydrogen vehicles in the European Union takes place in the next 10 to 15 years, as promoted by the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform (HFP), then infrastructure strategies will be crucial. At the core of any infrastructure analysis is the question of how the infrastructure should be developed over time and how the needs of both consumers and suppliers can be met. At the same time, such an analysis must also take into account the characteristics of different national energy systems (such as the availability of primary energy sources or competition for end uses), as well as national energy policies. What this infrastructure build-up could look like and what it might cost is shown in a case study for Germany as well as at the European level. On this basis, more general infrastructure strategies are derived with respect to roll-out strategies, production mix and distribution options, and their impacts on supply costs and CO2 emissions. The chapter finishes with an outlook on global hydrogen scenarios.

The need for a hydrogen-infrastructure analysis

The potential benefits of a hydrogen economy are recognised to differing degrees by national governments and supranational institutions, although the pathways and timeframes to achieve such a transition remain highly contended. The development of hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles that are economically and technologically competitive with conventional vehicles is a crucial prerequisite for the successful introduction of hydrogen as an automotive fuel.