International Hydrogen Policy Tracker

The International Hydrogen Policy Tracker was developed within the Global Hydrogen Potential Atlas “HyPat” project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). It compiles and systematizes data on the policy and regulatory landscape in the hydrogen sector in major frontrunner countries within the global hydrogen economy, located in different regions of the world. The methodology for compiling and coding the data was developed within the context of the project and is detailed in a comprehensive codebook. On this basis, the Hydrogen Policy Tracker's country dashboards provide an overview of the hydrogen policy landscape in ten frontrunner countries. Country graphs can be compared using a country comparison tool.

Why it matters

Particularly in the initial phase of the development of a global hydrogen economy, market developments in the hydrogen sector, as in other emerging green industries, will be strongly influenced by policy developments. Unlike in predominantly market-driven industries and technology fields, the development of demand for green hydrogen will not develop without political support. The role of policy in driving hydrogen demand is complemented by support measures on the supply side, e.g. to promote research and development, demonstration projects and infrastructure. It is this interplay between policy, market and industrial development that will determine the competitiveness of technical solutions as well as the suppliers of these solutions.

The International Hydrogen Policy Tracker provides a tool for systematic characterization and comparison of policy instrument in major frontrunner countries. At an early stage of technology and market development, this provides important information about general development trends and the political priorities of major countries. For example, a distinction can be made between more technology-open and technology-specific, or more production- or innovation-oriented policy patterns. For these and other policy characteristics, the individual policy and regulatory instruments have been coded, allowing a visual representation of policy patterns.

Methodology

The Hydrogen Policy Tracker provides a comprehensive database of policy instruments in nine countries. These interventions have been coded based on a categorization system that distinguishes different instrument types, the segments of the hydrogen value chain targeted by the policy interventions as well as their geographic scope (domestic vs. International). Instrument types and segments of the hydrogen value chain are further divided into sub-categories, allowing for additional analysis. The categorization system as well as the instructions for coding are laid out in a codebook with detailed instructions.

The Hypat Project

The Global Hydrogen Potential Atlas “HyPat” project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with the main objective of providing an assessment of potential partner countries for Germany's future hydrogen economy and analyze their respective production and supply chains. Besides examining the global techno-economic potential and hydrogen value chains, the project considers potential partners' needs and objectives. The project also includes an analysis of the broader international market and policy developments and their implications for the global ramp-up of hydrogen supply and demand. In this context, the RIFS Potsdam developed the International Hydrogen Policy Tracker to compile and systematize data on the policy and regulatory landscape of the hydrogen economy in major hydrogen frontrunner countries in different regions of the world. Almudena Nunez was responsible for leading the data collection and coding under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Rainer Quitzow.

The RIFS Potsdam and the Research Group on Energy and Industrial Transformation

The Research Institute for Sustainability at the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam conducts research with the goal of understanding, advancing, and guiding processes of societal change towards sustainable development. Our research approach is transformative, transdisciplinary, and co-creative: RIFS researchers collaborate with diverse actors from science, policymaking and public administration as well as business and civil society to develop a common understanding of sustainability challenges and generate potential solutions.

The Research Group „Geopolitics of Energy and Industrial Transformation“ at RIFS Potsdam investigates how the global energy transition is affecting the international political economy of energy and identifies implications for foreign policy and international cooperation. It focuses in particular on the development of industrial strategies to reach greenhouse gas neutrality targets against the background of increasing geoeconomic rivalry. An important example for this is the development of an international hydrogen economy and related political and economic change. The team combines disciplinary expertise from the fields of political science, economics and the environmental and physical sciences with expert knowledge from practitioners and policy makers in the energy sector. By engaging practitioners from government, business and civil society in our transdisciplinary research processes, we co-create actionable policy proposals and solutions.