Berlin, March 25, 2026. Climate-neutral hydrogen is considered key to future energy supply: According to estimates by the National Hydrogen Council, hydrogen demand in Germany (in German) will amount to approximately 95 to 130 terawatt-hours by the early 2030s. Since a large portion of production will take place in sun- and wind-rich regions outside Europe, reliable international supply chains are crucial.
To enable safe transport and global trade, the German Institute for Standardization (DIN e. V.), the VDE Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (DKE), the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW), the Association of German Engineers (VDI) and the VDMA, Europe’s largest association for mechanical and plant engineering, are launching the project “Standardization Roadmap for Hydrogen Derivatives and Technologies” (NRM H2Plus).
For long-distance transport, hydrogen derivatives such as ammonia, methanol, or Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHC) are used in addition to liquid hydrogen. They chemically bind hydrogen, making it suitable for transport and storage. However, the technical requirements for these derivatives have so far been scarcely regulated.
Foundation for international hydrogen value chains
Many companies and infrastructure operators face challenges because technical requirements for liquid hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives have not yet been clearly defined. Therefore, the “Standardization Roadmap for Hydrogen Derivatives and Technologies,” funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), will analyze over the next three years which standards are necessary for the production, transport, storage, and use of liquid hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives.
In doing so, the project will lay an important foundation for investment decisions, infrastructure planning, and energy policy strategies in the emerging hydrogen economy.
Closing the Gap for Hydrogen Derivatives
While standardization needs for gaseous hydrogen have already been comprehensively examined, a comparable systematic analysis for liquid hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives has been lacking to date. The project closes this gap.
The results will be published in 2027 and 2028 in the form of two sequential standardization roadmaps.
Expertise from industry and research sought
A central element of the project is the integration of industry and academia. In thematic working groups, experts analyze standardization needs and develop proposals for future projects.
Experts from industry, academia, politics, and civil society are therefore cordially invited to actively contribute to the standardization roadmap.
You can find more information about the project here (in German) on the project website. To participate, you can register here (in German).
