6 October 2025

What role can hydrogen play in municipal heating planning? What opportunities does it offer and where are the technological and economic limits? These questions were the focus of a public panel discussion hosted by Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, the industry association SolarInput e. V. and SOKRATHERM GmbH in the university's Audimax on 25 September.

(Photos: HSN)

Guests from science, administration, business and civil society came together to discuss the status and prospects of hydrogen utilisation in the heating sector.

Moderator Phillip-Simon Keitel (SolarInput e.V.) began by welcoming the attendees and introducing the five panellists. In a short thematic wrap-up on the status quo of hydrogen in the heating transition, he outlined key developments, terminology and political framework conditions. The aim was to create a common thematic basis for the subsequent discussion, with a clear focus on the potential and limitations in the area of heat supply.

Various application perspectives and sectoral assessments were presented in the subsequent panel discussion:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Voswinckel (Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences) pleaded for a strategic prioritisation of applications: "Hydrogen belongs where there are no electrical alternatives. This is primarily international air and sea transport as well as the chemical industry and the production of green steel. In the heating sector, hydrogen will only play a special role and clear techno-economic decision-making principles are needed for its use."

Christian Gninka (SOKRATHERM GmbH) referred to the possibilities of combined heat and power (CHP) as an economically relevant component of sector coupling. "The times of high heat demand and residual electricity load coincide well seasonally. CHP is the order of the day; hydrogen as a storable energy source of the future can usefully complement these systems." SOKRATHERM is technically prepared to use H₂ as a primary energy source.

Johannes Götting (climate protection manager for the city of Nordhausen) emphasised the need for long-term political and economic framework conditions. "Our previous feasibility studies often had a short half-life because legal requirements and funding frameworks change regularly. Heat transition needs predictability and social connectivity."

Torsten Koch (Stadtwerke Nordhausen) presented the municipal utility's current projects, including a pilot project for hydrogen-powered waste disposal and the use of green waste to generate local heating. A study carried out in 2021 has provided initial findings on the role of hydrogen in urban supply, but there are no operational applications in the heating sector as yet.

Prof Dr Dieter Sell (Managing Director of ThEGA - State Energy Agency of Thuringia) was "cautiously optimistic": hydrogen is a potentially relevant component of an energy mix that is open to all technologies, but its integration requires time, infrastructure and political control. The ThEGA helped to develop the Thuringian hydrogen strategy and is supporting local authorities in the state with its implementation. "I have been working on this topic for decades and am convinced that it will take a long time."

In the audience discussion that followed, questions were raised about storage, price development, infrastructure compatibility, economic efficiency and political control. It became clear: The contribution of hydrogen to the heating transition must be considered in a differentiated way, not as a universal solution, but as a building block in interaction with existing networks, regional potential, technological transitions and long-term planning.

It became clear that the heating transition can only succeed through the interplay of specialist knowledge, political will and regional connectivity and, last but not least, dialogue with the population.

"Hydrogen is neither a saviour nor a side note, it is part of a complex change that needs to be well managed," said one participant, summarising the debate. The discourse showed that the heating transition is not a purely technical project, but also a structural policy and communication project. "The economic integration of hydrogen into the existing concept of renewable energy sources will be crucial. As the production of hydrogen technologies increases, the price will fall and become competitive." This was the conclusion of the discussion between Prof Dr Voswinckel and guest Dr Aulich from SolarInput.

After the discussion, many guests took the opportunity for personal dialogue at the get-together with finger food and drinks.

The event was organised jointly by SolarInput e. V., SOKRATHERM GmbH and Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences and was intended as a contribution to scientifically sound and practical orientation in the context of municipal heat planning in Thuringia.