The Institute for Innovation and Technology (iit) has published the Hydrogen Sentiment Index 2025, which assesses the conditions for the expansion of hydrogen technologies in Germany. This index is based on a comprehensive survey of experts. In the current report, 70 percent of the experts surveyed rate the market potential for hydrogen technologies as high to very high, although the current framework conditions still have room for improvement.
The index, which reflects surveys conducted in the DACH region between December 18, 2024 and February 17, 2025, drew on responses from 531 experts from the energy, industry, research and public administration sectors. 42 percent of respondents stated that they had excellent technological knowledge and a very good overview.
The annual Hydrogen Sentiment Index documents opportunities and challenges for the technological transformation in Germany. It is made up of four sections: “Technology and infrastructure”, “Political and regulatory framework”, “Economic framework” and “Skilled workers and cooperation”. The aim of the index is to transparently present the progress and current status of hydrogen expansion in Germany.
Political framework conditions slow down hydrogen ramp-up
The latest study reveals that 70 percent of experts predict a breakthrough of hydrogen technologies in Germany. The participants in the study identify significant market opportunities in the industrial and manufacturing sectors in particular. In particular, 88 percent of the experts see considerable development opportunities in the industrial sector. By contrast, the prospects for the transport, logistics, heating and energy supply sectors are assessed more cautiously.
Agon Kamberi from the Institute for Innovation and Technology emphasized: “The market ramp-up for hydrogen is likely to be driven by the industrial sector, where hydrogen is used both thermally and as a material.”
The overall value of the sentiment index reaches 46.2 out of 100 points and signals a need for improvement. The political and regulatory framework conditions in particular received a cautious rating of 42.1 points.
Investment conditions (35.4 points) and financing opportunities (37.3 points) are rated as particularly weak. Lorenz Hornbostel from the iit warned that the hydrogen ramp-up in Germany could only succeed with the right institutional framework conditions.
The Hydrogen Sentiment Index 2025 was conducted in cooperation with the Lower Saxony Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Building and Digitalization.
