Market

In emerging and developing countries, but also in crisis areas, there are many opportunities to use hydrogen to overcome energy poverty and establish a reliable, CO₂-neutral power supply. In this context, hydrogen-based microgrids have a decisive role to play. In this form, hydrogen-producing electrolyzers, cylinder racks for hydrogen storage and fuel cell systems for reconversion into electricity can be accommodated in the space of a shipping container. Together, they help to conserve renewable energy for later use.

Politicians have big plans, and to reduce harmful greenhouse gases, they’re putting billions into the expansion of production and pipeline networks for "green" hydrogen. One of the ambitious targets is to increase its share of total energy consumption in the EU to over 20 percent by 2050 if possible. In Germany alone, they want to invest around 19 billion euros in the planned H₂ core network, which is to increase to over 9,000 kilometers across all German states by 2032. With these pipelines, hydrogen should then flow from the northern German ports to storage facilities or power plants. In the final expansion – around 60 percent of the network will be former natural gas pipes – the feed-in capacity is to be over 100 gigawatts, according to the German network agency (Bundesnetzagentur).

After more than 50 years of experience with hydrogen, Honeywell is also banking on green hydrogen with its company Energy and Sustainability Solutions (ESS). The US conglomerate takes the entire value chain into account: from more efficient PEM electrolysis all the way to transport infrastructure.

170 companies from the European energy sector have addressed a letter to the EU Commission. They demand that the binding RFNBO targets for hydrogen in transport and industry be maintained beyond 2030. Abolishing them would jeopardize investments of over 15 billion euros.

Researchers at TU Dresden, together with the Ariane Group and the DLR, have tested what they claim to be the first actively cooled hydrogen-oxygen rotating detonation rocket combustion chamber in Europe. It ran stably in nine test runs over a total of approximately 80 seconds.

The RH2INE initiative has received an initial approval from Lloyd's Register for the standardized design of interchangeable hydrogen containers. This brings a mobile hydrogen infrastructure for emission-free inland shipping along the Rhine corridor closer.

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.

Electrolyzer manufacturer H-Tec Systems underwent restructuring at the turn of the year and brought in Markus Weber to join the team as chief financial officer. Up until now, the position had been held by Frank Zimmermann who decided to leave the company of his own accord. CEO Robin von Plettenberg...

Thomas Hüwener will become the new management spokesman for transmission system operator OGE from July 1, 2024. The 52-year-old, who has held various positions at the company since 2001, was appointed by the supervisory board to succeed Jörg Bergmann, who is taking planned retirement after...

At the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland, the first 14 of a total of 150 electrolyser stacks for the Refhyne 2 project have arrived. According to the company, the 100 MW PEM electrolyser is scheduled to go into operation in 2027 and produce up to 16,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year.

ABO Energy and the Finnish city of Oulu have signed a cooperation agreement to develop a green hydrogen facility. According to ABO Energy, the electrolysis capacity could be expanded in several phases to up to 600 MW.

ABB will supply its System 800xA distributed control system for the Kawasaki LH2 Terminal in Ogishima, Japan. Kawasaki Heavy Industries selected the technology for what is billed as the world's first commercial-scale liquefied hydrogen terminal. The demonstration phase is scheduled to end by 2030.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems (IMM) is showcasing a diesel reformer at the Hydrogen Technology World Expo in Hamburg. The device generates a hydrogen-rich gas from diesel fuel, which can directly supply a fuel cell at the site of use.

Beckhoff presents its automation solutions for hydrogen plants at the Hydrogen Technology World Expo 2026 in Hamburg. The focus is on system-integrated explosion protection, measurement technology for electrolysers, and an AI assistant for engineering.

The hydrogen B2B marketplace Hyfindr has developed a Hydrogen Supplier World Map. This shows more than 1,200 suppliers of hydrogen technologies—filterable and with detailed information on each provider.

Numerous European associations from the energy, hydrogen, and industrial sectors are urging the EU Commission to quickly revise the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1184. The ongoing uncertainty about the production criteria for renewable hydrogen endangers investments along the entire value chain.

Hydrogen Europe has a new Chair. The association's Board elected Miguel López, CEO of thyssenkrupp, to lead the industry group. His mandate runs until June 2029. He succeeds Sebastian Boden of Air Liquide.

A coalition of 16 German and European business associations is calling for a European hydrogen alliance at the member state level. Germany is to take a leading role in this. Although progress is being made, it remains behind the requirements.