The Impact of the Russian War against Ukraine on the German Hydrogen Discourse

Abstract

This contribution delves into the transformative effects of the Russian–Ukrainian war on the discourse surrounding German hydrogen. Employing structural topical modeling (STM) on a vast dataset of 2192 newspaper articles spanning from 2019 to 2022, it aims to uncover thematic shifts attributed to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The onset of the war in February 2022 triggered a significant pivot in the discourse, shifting it from sustainability and climate-change mitigation to the securing of energy supplies through new partnerships, particularly in response to Russia’s unreliability. Germany started exploring alternative energy trading partners like Canada and Australia, emphasizing green hydrogen development. The study illustrates how external shocks can expedite the uptake of new technologies. The adoption of the “H2 readiness” concept for LNG terminals contributes to the successful implementation of green hydrogen. In summary, the Russian–Ukrainian war profoundly impacted the German hydrogen discourse, shifting the focus from sustainability to energy supply security, underscoring the interconnectedness of energy security and sustainability in Germany’s hydrogen policy.