The German H2 strategy seems like it's right out of a fever dream: Now the federal research ministry (BMBF) is testing 100% H2 as a replacement for natural gas in a small town in Bavaria.

As usual this sounds nice at first glance. But right on the second you find that the participants have to replace their gas burner. I.e. this is not mitigation, this is a replacement technology.

1.) In what way is this better than moving to heat pumps? You have to get a new device in either case.

2.) What is the maturity of H2 burners compared to heat pumps? Hard to say, but you can actually buy heat pumps while you can only buy gas burners that won't perish if up to (!) 20% H2 is mixed in with the natural gas. Hmmm...

3.) Is H2 actually economically reasonable as a heat source? Making H2 by electrolysis has an efficiency much smaller than 100%, burning it in a burner has efficiency close to but smaller than 100%. Heat pumps pump have a coefficient of performance (COP) usually far exceeding one (typ. 2-3 across the year). I.e. 1 kWh electricity will make < 1 kWh of H2, but 2-3 kWh of heat using heat pumps.

The economics would only add up, if the switch to H2 was possible with existing, already installed gas burners. However: it is not.