This week, government ministers from Germany will go to both Norway and Portugal as part of their ambitions to deepen international collaboration on the energy transition. According to a report in Tagesspiegel, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck (Green Party) plans to travel to Norway in the hopes of signing a joint declaration that will pave the way for large hydrogen imports into Germany within the current decade. In order to accomplish this, a hydrogen pipeline would need to be constructed all the way from Norway, with the intention of importing green hydrogen in the not-too-distant future. By the year 2030, the Ministry of the Economy anticipates having completed the majority of the necessary stages for the collaboration, including the infrastructure that is required. According to Tagesspiegel, the findings of a feasibility study on a hydrogen pipeline should be available by the spring. In addition, the two nations are working on reaching an agreement on a strategic partnership regarding the climate, green sector, and renewable energies, particularly offshore wind.
Annalena Baerbock, the minister of foreign affairs, made the announcement before to her trip to Portugal that cooperation with the country should be strengthened on a number of topics, including those pertaining to climate and energy as well as environmental preservation. According to the green politician, Portugal has adapted its climate and energy policies to account for the reality of increasingly dry and hot summers, and the country also recognized early on the important role that the world’s seas play in determining both the climate and the availability of food. She continued by saying that “we want to learn from each other” before stating that “we want to join forces even more.” As a direct result of Russia’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine and the consequent energy crisis, Germany was compelled to reconsider its energy transition strategy. The German government, which is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels from Russia, recognizes the necessity of accelerating the development of renewable energy sources and diversifying its imports of fossil fuels. This is necessary to ensure energy supply security and to keep the country’s climate goals within reach.
