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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.

Intercontinental Energy, a global developer of large-scale green hydrogen projects, has unveiled a patented system called P2(H2)Node. Developed in Australia, the technology aims to reduce the production costs of green hydrogen by 10 to 20 percent, thereby accelerating the widespread adoption of this energy carrier.

Technology provider Elcogen and plant engineering company Casale have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to integrate solid oxide electrolysis into ammonia production. The partnership aims to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions in the traditionally fossil-based ammonia industry by using green hydrogen.

The administration of the Lithuanian capital has launched the construction of a hydrogen production facility in cooperation with district heating provider Vilnius Heat Networks and infrastructure company MT Group. The project aims to drive the decarbonisation of public transport and could serve as a model for the entire Baltic region.

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...

The Norwegian state-owned energy company Statkraft is halting the development of new green hydrogen projects. For existing projects—including two electrolyzers in Emden, Germany—the company is seeking investors.

Hydrogen specialist H2Apex is expanding its activities in the field of chemical hydrogen storage through its subsidiary Akros Energy. Johannes Emigholz, an experienced software entrepreneur, has been appointed CEO and is expected to drive the development of innovative storage technologies.

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.

At The smarter E Europe trade fair in Munich this June, the full spectrum of the energy transition will be on display—including many hydrogen industry exhibitors. HZwei will be present at the Gentner Energy Media booth, featuring two live expert interviews.

Trade shows are short-lived affairs involving a lot of effort and energy for just a few hours in the spotlight, not to mention a heap of materials that need subsequent disposal. This extravagance often sits awkwardly alongside the focal areas of the events themselves, particularly when sustainable themes like renewable energy and hydrogen are on the agenda and the emphasis is on resource conservation not consumption. Keen to highlight – and where possible redress – this incongruity, Benjamin Low has taken action by founding the Sustainable Trade Events Partnership (STEP).

The trade fair company Deutsche Messe AG appears confident that in 2022 it will be holding an in-person Hannover Messe once again. The organization made clear already in fall 2021 that hydrogen will play a central role in the industrial trade show of 2022, taking place April 25th to 29th. Deutsche Messe together with Hydrogen + Fuel Cells Europe is holding a networking event centered around hydrogen (see photo) in November at the Landesvertretung Niedersachsen in Berlin. It will be followed soon after by the traditional press conference, this time with Ove Petersen, CEO of GP Joule, which explicitly indicates the future importance of hydrogen.

The HyDresden initiative is calling for electrolysis and green hydrogen to be anchored as eligible infrastructure projects within the planned €500 billion special fund. Linde Engineering, Sunfire, and the Fraunhofer IKTS aim to establish Dresden as an international hydrogen hub and to expand domestic value creation.

The tasks of grid operators include, on the one hand, the safety-oriented design of the gas infrastructure and, on the other hand, guaranteeing the proper functioning and operational reliability of the gas networks over their lifetime of use. Network operators ensure this by adhering to the requirements in the technical regulations of the DVGW, the German association for gas and water standards (Deutscher Verein des Gas- und Wasserfaches e.V.), for all gases in accordance with reference sheet (Arbeitsblatt) G 260. Which now also includes hydrogen. With the publishing of the new Energiewirtschaftsgesetz (German energy industry law, EnWG) in August 2021, the DVGW also became responsible for establishing the technical rules and requirements for the supply of hydrogen by pipeline to the general public. On the one hand, this is a leap of trust in the expertise of the gas industry and, on the other, an impetus to further develop the regulatory framework especially for hydrogen.

Since April 2022, the former head of communications at the German national organization for hydrogen and fuel cells (Nationale Organisation Wasserstoff- und Brennstoffzellentechnologie GmbH, NOW) has been working at the German association for gas and water standards (Deutscher Verein des Gas- und Wasserfaches e.V., DVGW). Tilman Wilhelm, who had been responsible for the public image of NOW since 2008, henceforth works as head of regulatory policy, press and public relations at the trade association. Dr. Gerald Linke, managing director of the DVGW, said, “With Tilman Wilhelm, a proven hydrogen and mobility expert with excellent political connections in Berlin and on the EU level is taking over responsibility for communications at the DVGW.”