Berlin 24 August : Germany and Canada have signed a cooperative agreement for the production and transportation of hydrogen during the second day of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to Canada.German Economy Minister Robert Habeck and Canadian Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson signed the agreement in a ceremony held on Tuesday in the remote town of Stephenville, in Newfoundland and Labrador and was with Scholz as well as Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau, dpa news agency reported.
Trudeau spoke of the possibility of a “historic step towards a shared future”.
“Our goal is clear: working towards the first exports of Canadian hydrogen to Germany by 2025,” Trudeau said.”Our outcomes are crystal clear and include the creation of middle-class jobs and local jobs while delivering energy that can help combat the climate crisis.”
Scholz said the agreement will elevate the relationship between the two nations to a strategic level.
The German chancellor who was accompanied on his visit by his deputy Habeck as well as a large contingent of executives from industry and commerce, described the accord “an important step not just to strengthen our bilateral business relations but also to ensure the sustainability of our energy supply in the coming years.”
Newfoundland is considered to be a favorable place to produce of energy-efficient hydrogen.The region is extremely turbulent and is not populous.
Utilization of hydrogen doesn’t produce greenhouse gases.
To make hydrogen, water needs to be divided into oxygen and hydrogen by electrolysis.It is environmentally friendly if sustainable energy is utilized.
Presently, the cost of making low-carbon hydrogen is higher than purchasing natural gas, however, experts believe that hydrogen is able to lower energy costs in the near future.
Hubs for hydrogen production in the industrial sector are yet to be finished However, they are in the process of being completed.
German energy firms Eon and Uniper announced on Tuesday that they have signed an memorandum of agreement with Canadian company Everwind on the eve of the talks between Canada and Germany with the goal of the import of carbon-neutral hydrogen from Canada on an extensive scale starting in 2025.
In this regard the companies are seeking a purchase contract for up to 500 million tonnes of ammonia – the substance that is used for transporting hydrogen each year.
Ammonia green and hydrogen plant is scheduled to be constructed in the village of Point Tupper in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.”It is in an advanced stage of development and is expected to begin commercial operations in the first quarter of 2025,” Eon said.
Additionally, on Tuesday, German carmaker Mercedes-Benz and the Canadian government signed an agreement of understanding to facilitate cooperation as well as economic opportunities in the Canadian supply chain for electric vehicles.
int/shs
