Contact

The industrial sector hits on hydrogen

By

April 14, 2021

Image titel:

Sources:

The industrial sector hits on hydrogen

Digital Handelsblatt Energy Summit 2021

Hildegard Müller - VDA
© VDA

Global energy trends are clearly moving in the direction of hydrogen – and away from fossil fuels. That’s the conclusion that can be drawn from the three-day digital energy summit staged by German business paper Handelsblatt which ran from Jan. 13 to Jan. 15, 2021. The energy sector as a whole faces enormous challenges as it continues along the path of decarbonization. Coal will be exhausted and demand for oil, too, will gradually decline in favor of hydrogen – with green hydrogen a credible prospect in the longer term given its renewable credentials. Natural gas must also become cleaner, though carbon capture and storage, CCS, remains a divisive issue. “Turquoise” hydrogen, meanwhile, can be viewed as a sensible option for applications associated with the production of green steel. No mention was made of yellow hydrogen produced from biogas, and was addressed instead in terms of hydrogen created using nuclear power.

Advertisements

The kaleidoscope of hydrogen, each color defined by the means and energy type used to create it, should not, however, be seen in fundamentalist terms: Instead of an “either… or” split as some politicians would have it, there should be more of a “this and that” approach. For the need is so immense that there is no way of bypassing blue hydrogen, which admittedly is a carbon dioxide emitter, though emissions are being significantly reduced. In fact there’s talk of over 70 percent compared with coal.

The energy transition is beginning to gain traction – at an international level. And this transformation with all its dynamism should not be impinged upon by the conditions and regulations of policy. In this respect, the trade in carbon emissions offers a good alternative to Germany’s previous renewable energy law. According to political and industrial thinkers, going forward the prices should rise to EUR 100 to EUR 200 compared with the current EUR 35 to EUR 50 per metric ton in order to massively incentivize investment in clean technologies.

Advertisements

Disruptive change in the energy supply

Several sectors, for instance cement and steel, currently find themselves on the cusp of major changes where carbon dioxide emissions present a real problem. The chemicals industry, too, intends to replace oil and natural gas with hydrogen, with EUR 0.04 per kWh potentially providing the basis for production. This change opens up possibilities for new business areas and new jobs – indeed ones that are in tune with climate objectives. The European Green Deal represents an opportunity for achieving this.

This requires a transnational approach to green hydrogen – not just within the European arena but also globally. While Germany does not have the underpinnings for a sufficient supply of renewables, it does have the capital. Therefore some large-scale thinking is required. For its 2,600 terrawatt-hours of annual consumption, Germany will be depending on imports of energy – despite around 600 terrawatts of domestic renewable production. It makes a lot of sense to utilize the favorable conditions in countries such as Spain, Portugal, Greece and many others for hydrogen production. Industry can channel investment into those locations and use its skills to provide assistance – in its own interest. Hydrogen, it is fair to say, is the oil of tomorrow. Sooner or later there will be a similar level of annual investment to that in global oil production: USD 2,000 billion.

For all these positive developments, it would be well if there weren’t so many different independent hydrogen strategies, be it at an EU, national or local level. Instead a single holistic approach is called for. For this to happen, industrial policy must be linked pragmatically to climate objectives. After all, climate protection is a business model. The demands at the energy summit have therefore so far been: less regulation, more market and no climate alarmism, just technological openness.

The electric transportation sector is primarily ruled by battery-electric mobility. Tesla can be seen as a clear role model here. The company has managed to give a boost to the global automobile industry. German carmakers, however, need to stop hiding behind Tesla, according to VDA president Hildegard Müller. In the lobbyist’s opinion, Germany and its business sector need to now pick up speed and confront the key challenge of digitalization – artificial intelligence systems in vehicles. What’s more, the charging infrastructure, Müller says, must be made simpler to use with increased standardization and compatibility that is independent of the manufacturer or the electricity supplier. She also envisaged that in 10 years, around a third of vehicles will still be running on a combustion engine.

To sum up: Hydrogen has never before been the subject of so much discussion at the Handelsblatt Energy Summit.

Author: Sven Jösting

Kategorien: Germany

Here are interesting and current articles on the topic of hydrogen – stocks and the stock market!

Economic prospects for companies in the hydrogen sector | Future, stocks & hydrogen companies on the stock exchange and more…

Which hydrogen companies will prevail in the competitive market in the long term? Get tips and cartwheels and learn more about risks or opportunities. Our stock market specialist and expert author Sven Jösting reports critically, independently and competently.

Mar 18 2024

Search for the ideal hydrogen storage

Interview with Thomas Korn, CEO of water stuff & sun Startup company water stuff & sun has...
Mar 15 2024

Is exponential growth slowing down?

Fuel Cell Industry Review 2022 Year 2022 saw fuel cell shipments creep up over 2021 numbers,...
Mar 11 2024

On the way to becoming a green hydrogen partner

Oman aims to score points with H2 infrastructure Wind, sun and loads of expertise – these...
Mar 07 2024

We can master a scale-up for green hydrogen

Interview with Dr. Kai Fischer, Director at RWTH Aachen The efficient scaling of green hydrogen...
Mar 07 2024

Frustration over continuing uncertainties

Interview with Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe There is a lot that needs sorting out...
Mar 05 2024

“If ever there was momentum for hydrogen, it is now”

Interview with Dr. Jochen Köckler, chairman of Deutsche Messe “We’re bringing people together.”...
Feb 28 2024

H2Direkt: Blueprint for heating with pure H2

The energy providers Thüga und Energie Südbayern (ESB) as well as Energienetze Bayern have...
Feb 26 2024

Just switch over?

Hydrogen in the existing natural gas network Whether hydrogen contributes to the clean heating...
Feb 26 2024

Pilot plant for coating bipolar plates

At Fraunhofer FEP (Fraunhofer-Institut für Organische Elektronik, Elektronenstrahl- und...
Feb 20 2024

55 MW electrolyzer to decarbonize Saarland

Hydrogen Regions series: HydroHub Fenne living lab The power plant site in Fenne, Völklingen, a...
Feb 20 2024

Chicken feathers as FC membrane material

Feathers from chickens or other poultry could in the future help make fuel cells more effective...
Feb 15 2024

SMEs demand more security

Guest article by André Steinau, CEO of GP Joule Hydrogen After all, the Ampel Coalition leading...
Feb 15 2024

Accelerated expansion of renewable energies

RED III is here – Elsewhere, the wait continues Progress is being made at EU level – albeit...
Feb 12 2024

Picea 2 relies on lithium instead of lead

HPS presents new product generation The company HPS Home Power Solutions has unveiled a new...
Feb 12 2024

H2 production by photocatalysis

The direct generation of hydrogen from sunlight has long been considered the most elegant solution...
Feb 05 2024

Regional instead of international

Hy-Fcell has it difficult asserting itself The aspiration of Landesmesse Stuttgart with Hy-Fcell...
Feb 01 2024

Hydrogeit Verlag turns 20 years old

Hydrogeit Verlag is proudly celebrating its 20th anniversary as a renowned specialist publisher in...
Jan 26 2024

Stracke other H2Now managing director

BMV Energy GmbH is entering the market as another player in hydrogen refueling stations. The...
Jan 26 2024

Starting points for a comprehensive hydrogen ramp-up

Industry congress GAT 2023 in Cologne To establish a functioning hydrogen economy, the entire...
Jan 26 2024

The industry highpoint in autumn

Hydrogen Technology Expo total success In autumn 2023 as well, the Hydrogen Technology Expo was...

0 Comments

Leave a Reply