ALBERT

Description: Under the European Green Deal, hydrogen plays a central role in the decarbonisation of so-called »hard-to-electrify« sectors and represents an important target of green industrial policy, as Europe seeks to gain leadership in this emerging segment of carbon-neutral industrial systems. Moreover, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it has been declared an important building block in efforts to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian natural gas (Rouzo 2021). While it is almost certain that the EU will need to import a significant share of clean hydrogen to meet its climate-neutrality targets, it also increasingly recognised that it will be important to build up significant capacities in the EU and its immediate vicinity. This can help strengthen the EU energy system’s resilience by reducing import dependencies and serve as a home market for European equipment and technology in the race for industrial leadership in the sector. This was one of nine policy messages formulated in a previous policy paper published jointly by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) on the role of international cooperation in the development of an international hydrogen economy (Quitzow et al. 2023a). Against this background, the Nordic region, with its abundant renewable energy resources at competitive costs could play an important role as a potential hub for hydrogen production and trade, involving EU members Finland, Sweden and Denmark, as well as Norway and Iceland, both members of the European Economic Area. The Nordic states1 are positioning themselves as leaders in the energy transition and are pursuing ambitious decarbonisation targets in an effort to combat climate change. Hydrogen’s possible role in achieving carbon-neutral societies has encouraged an increase in the activities of various stakeholders in the region in the form of concurrent policy development, R&D and industry development. The Nordic countries aim to use hydrogen to help achieve their interrelated climate and energy goals and as a key tool in the transformation of their industries. In this vein, this policy paper explores the role the Nordics could play in an emerging European hydrogen economy. It provides, first, a brief overview of the current state of climate and energy policy in the region. It then goes on to review the state-of-play in the hydrogen sector, including national hydrogen strategies and the current project landscape in the Nordics. Finally, it reviews the role of Nordic cooperation both within the region and with other European partners in supporting a rapid development of the hydrogen economy. It concludes by identifying potential entry-points for increasing cooperation in the future.

Description: This paper discusses the key questions and challenges for promoting international cooperation between the EU and potential international partners within an emerging hydrogen economy. On this basis, it identifies entry-points for related policy action. Specifically, it outlines six policy dimensions that European policymakers should consider when engaging in the development of international partnerships within the emerging hydrogen economy: climate mitigation, green industrial development in Europe, just transitions in partner countries, geopolitics, security of supply, and economic feasibility. Taking these six dimensions as its starting point, the paper presents nine policy messages for the development of an international hydrogen economy within the context of broader decarbonisation efforts in the EU.

Description: Gerade in Krisensituationen (wie etwa der gegenwärtigen COVID-19-Pandemie) und bei wichtigen Reformvorhaben wird der Rat der Wissenschaft immer stärker nachgefragt. Damit verbinden sich häufig Erwartungen, denen Forscher_innen nicht immer entsprechen können. Umgekehrt haben sich die Bedingungen von Wissenschaftskommunikation und wissenschaftlicher Politikberatung in den letzten Jahrzehnten stark verändert. So werden etwa hinsichtlich der digitalen Medien neben neuen Chancen auch deren Risiken deutlich. Der Beitrag diskutiert, wie das Verhältnis von Wissenschaft, Politik und Öffentlichkeit neu ausgelotet werden kann.

Description: Increasingly abundant big data and artificial intelligence applications are restructuring economic activities and daily life. This is epitomized in the notion of the smart city, and especially visible on our streets, where e-scooters or pool-riding services are added every month and reshape our mobility. It’s a time of experimentation and that may be a good thing. Yet, there are also signs of discontent, raising the question of how big data can be managed and organized in a way that reduces congestion and improves the daily travel routines of millions of citizens, supports the wider public good while also leveraging Israel’s potential as a start-up nation. Here, we take the example of smart mobility in Israel to investigate how integrated data management can multiply the benefits of big data applications, while effectively managing risks. We find that integrated data platforms offer an opportunity to leverage benefits if three key design principles are followed: 1) open (but not necessarily free) data access; 2) maintaining the privacy, agency and participation of individuals, users, and the public; and 3) tailoring mobility services to meet well-defined goals of public policy.

Description: In diesem Grundsatzpapier werden die zentralen Fragen und Herausforderungen diskutiert, die sich im Aufbau von Kooperationen zwischen der EU und potenziellen internationalen Partnern in der entstehenden Wasserstoffwirtschaft stellen. Auf dieser Basis werden Ansatzpunkte für politisches Handeln auf diesem Gebiet benannt. Insbesondere werden sechs politische Bereiche umrissen, die europäische Entscheidungsträger_innen beim Aufbau internationaler Partnerschaften in der entstehenden Wasserstoffwirtschaft besonders beachten sollten: Klimaschutz, die Entwicklung grüner Industrien in Europa, Just Transitions (gerechte Übergänge) in Partnerländern, Geopolitik, Versorgungssicherheit und wirtschaftliche Machbarkeit. Ausgehend von diesen sechs Bereichen werden die folgenden neun Kernaussagen getroffen, wie sich eine internationale Wasserstoffwirtschaft als Bestandteil umfassenderer EU-Bemühungen zur Dekarbonisierung entwickeln lässt.

Description: This policy brief focuses on the nexus between decarbonization and tech innovation on the municipal level in Germany and Israel. It asks how decarbonization and innovation are coupled in cities in both countries, and what this nexus brings with it. To answer these questions, the following text provides a qualitative analysis of two German and two Israeli forerunner cities that are involved in efforts and practices of urban decarbonization and innovation.

Description: The following paper posits not only that democracies can, but also that they must experiment and re-invigorate themselves to meet the challenges ahead. It presents the case for participatory innovative practices as an important pathway for democratic renewal and for bolder and more ambitious climate action in Israel. Specifically, we focus on one deliberative democratic format, the Citizens’ Assembly, that has gained in popularity around the world of late, especially around climate-related issues.

Description: This study analyzes the environmental, economic and regulatory aspects of using second life batteries, especially with regard to providing storage solutions for Renewable Energy Sources (RES), with an emphasis on the Israeli and German cases.