Companies

Processes for the production, storage and use of hydrogen scaling, reducing costs and increasing efficiency: The trade fair Hydrogen + Fuel Cells Europe in Hannover is again proving the progress the hydrogen economy can show.

The transport transition is a central component of the German climate protection strategy. As part of this, hydrogen is seen as a key energy source, especially for heavy-duty goods vehicles. But how can hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) be supplied with hydrogen efficiently, sustainably and economically? A joint study by the National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW GmbH) and the German Energy Agency (dena) examines four supply options via a future H₂ pipeline network. In the study, H₂ hubs that act as connecting elements between the emerging H₂ network and the HRSs are of particular importance.

The Swiss company Infener wants to promote hydrogen throughout Europe. Decentralized H₂ hubs will be used to generate green electricity as well as green heat. The Ecore One is a compact containerized solution that combines various energy technologies in one unit: electrolyzer, fuel cell and battery as well as compressor and a heat pump with its own energy management system or EMS. H₂ production is due to start 2027 at a site in the Black Forest, Germany. However, the needs of regional industry are already far greater today.

In the electrolyzer sector, not only Enapter needed to bury its production plans in Saerbeck last year (see H2-international Jan. 2025). Quest One is also struggling and announced the dismissal of 120 employees in February 2025. Quest One had just, with a lot of pomp, opened the production hall in northern Hamburg last autumn (see H2-international Jan. 2025), but now has initiated a "program to strengthen the company's competitiveness" for the north.

With one of the largest hydrogen production facilities in Europe and the refueling center in Marl, the company not only supplies local companies, but also chemical sites throughout Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW). As the H2EL hydrogen coordinator, we keep an eye on all projects in the region and their progress and create the necessary transparency regarding the market ramp-up through our regular monitoring. Our Hydrogen Roadmap 2024 is simultaneously a progress report, an inventory and an outlook on the development of the hydrogen economy in the Emscher-Lippe region.

Germany is at a crossroads: Is hydrogen the load-bearing pillar of our climate-neutral energy supply or does it remain a large, expensive promise? The political course of the coming months will decide whether we create a globally competitive hydrogen market – or whether Germany loses connection to international development. This was pondered with our members at the German hydrogen association Deutscher Wasserstoff-Verband (DWV). We therefore formulated and published recommendations before the election of the German parliament under the title "H2Five: Fünf vor 2030" (five before 2030).

The current tense economic situation does not stop at the H₂ industry. Home Power Solutions (HPS) now had to step into a series of insolvencies. The Berlin company is currently looking for investors who enable the Heliocentris successor to continue working or restructuring. Dr. Henrik Colell, the co...

Transport iron to use hydrogen: The new H₂ storage technology of Ambartec AG conveys iron granulates and obtains the hydrogen on site through oxidation. In mid-February 2025, Ambartec, together with Purem by Eberspächer, signed a cooperation agreement (MOU) to prepare a serial production of this iron-nugget hydrogen storage and for its transport in standard 20-foot containers.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz took time for the opening of a new H₂ gas station four days before the federal election. In Bremerhaven, together with representatives of HY.City.Bremerhaven as well as Bremen's mayor Andreas Bovenschulte and SPD member of the Bundestag Uwe Schmidt, Scholz cut the ribbon...

Together with Air Liquide, Limak Cement Group has successfully tested the first hydrogen-blended fuel supply for cement production in Ankara, Turkey. H2-international conducted an interview with Erkam Kocakerim, CEO of Limak Cement Global.

Fuel cell systems have much fewer components compared to other energy converters such as internal combustion engines, but even they need pumps and valves as well as the corresponding sensors. Thus, among other things, precise hydrogen dosing, safe hydrogen cut-off and precise water separation in the anode circuit of the fuel cell must be guaranteed.

In the summer of 2025, the first hydrogen vehicles will compete against vehicles with conventional drive systems at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Styria, Austria. To ensure that both fuel cells and combustion engines can be used there, Formula Student Austria, in cooperation with other race organizers, has published corresponding H₂ regulations that will enable student teams to design, build and race hydrogen-powered racing cars in the future.

For around five years, the number of employees in the renewable energy sector has been steadily increasing again. Nevertheless, in Germany, it is not at its historic high. That was in 2011, at over 400,000 employees. Due to political and regulatory circumstances, this number fell by around 100,000 workers over the next eight years. The solar industry in particular has recorded heavy losses. Now, it is on the upswing again. Similar to green hydrogen, which is right where the solar industry was 20 years ago.

What developments! We are living in turbulent times. Several transformative processes are currently taking place at the same time: Not only the energy, transport and heating transition with the move away from fossil fuels or the social trend towards increasingly autocratic structures, but also the...

A research environment along the H₂ value chain is being created at the Research Airport in Braunschweig. Research is being conducted on green hydrogen production as well as the storage, transportation and use of hydrogen in heavy-duty mobility. Based on designs by Jahn Architektur, a unique H₂ research landscape on a real laboratory scale has been created on the approximately 5,000-m² (54,000-ft²) site, making it a demonstrator of a future energy center in the megawatt range.

In the EU project SHIMMER, the German institute for materials research and testing BAM is working on a comprehensive knowledge database. There, important information on standards for safe materials and components as well as on the European gas infrastructure is to be made available. SHIMMER will be led by the Norwegian research organization SINTEF. The project brings together twelve European institutions, including national institutes and gas network operators from the countries Spain, Italy, Norway, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

Big plans and professional marketing – HH2E’s appearance was downright impressive, but on November 8, 2024, the Hamburg-based start-up filed for insolvency on its own initiative. The reason for this was probably that the British majority shareholder Foresight Group did not want to finance the planned large-scale H₂ project in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern after all.

In October 2024, the German Federal Network Agency approved the plans for the hydrogen core network. Hydrogen is expected to flow through some sections as early as 2025. Despite turbulent times, the network operators remain confident about the new infrastructure.

The German fuel cell manufacturer Proton Motor has announced the provisional end of its production activities at the end of 2024 if no new investor is found. Despite diligent efforts to save the Bavarian company, it announced in mid-September that the employees of the Puchheim branch would have...

Nordrhein-Westfalen is further expanding its capacities in the H₂ research sector. In September 2024, the expanded HyTechLab4NRW in Duisburg went into operation. Since then, the site of the Center for Fuel Cell Technology has provided even better conditions for research into fuel cells and...

To strengthen its “role in the global hydrogen economy,” Enertrag, a developer and producer of renewable energies, opened its Hamburg office in fall 2024. At the new branch, Enertrag wants to contribute to the decarbonization of the logistics and shipping industry. And: “We want to supply not only...

The great excitement surrounding hydrogen seems to be over for the time being: Most H₂ shares have been on a downward trend for some time. This seems paradoxical, as climate change is accelerating and time is running out to slow it down. This makes a consistent energy transition all the more necessary, and that includes the hydrogen sector. However, energy policy is currently running with the handbrake on when it comes to renewable energies. Meanwhile, the companies that earn their money with fossil fuels are securing their sinecures.

The MAN subsidiary Quest One, formerly H-Tec Systems, celebrated the opening of its “Gigahub” in the north of Hamburg at the end of September 2024. It wants to produce flexible PEM electrolyzers with meter-high stacks on a large scale.

The Telegrafenberg in Potsdam is usually about geology and climate. However, October 16, 2024 was all about hydrogen. Prof. Jörg Steinbach, then Minister of Economic Affairs of the State of Brandenburg, had invited guests to the third Brandenburg Hydrogen Day, which was also attended by visitors from Brussels.

Four days of energy policy cooperation in Brussels – The European Hydrogen Week took place for the third time in Belgium from November 18 to 21, 2024. Organized by Hydrogen Europe, the European hydrogen association, a total of 220 exhibitors and, during the conference, numerous stakeholders...