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The March issue of H2-international - the e-journal on hydrogen and fuel cells - is published today. The special thing about this issue is that this is the last issue to be published by Hydrogeit Verlag. From April 1st, all further issues will be published by Gentner Verlag. This applies to both H2...
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).
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
The US is investing a lot of money in renewable energies and also in hydrogen. With the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Biden administration has released large sums of money to promote sustainable technologies. Even if at least some of this is likely to be reversed under a new Trump administration, a number of states have embarked on this path and - like New Mexico - are focusing on hydrogen. HZwei spoke to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham about this in Rotterdam in the summer of 2024.
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...
UFI Hydrogen may not yet be particularly well known to many industry participants in Germany, but the company, based in the Trento area of Italy, is part of the globally active UFI Group, which has 57 commercial offices and 22 plants worldwide (in Europe, Tunisia, China, India, Korea and Brazil, among others). Its products, mainly filters and components for thermal management, are in demand in many sectors. H2-international spoke to Marco Lazzaroni, CEO of UFI Hydrogen, the youngest company in the UFI Group, about the current economic situation in Europe, the potential of the H2 economy and, of course, the ambitions of UFI’s hydrogen business.
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.
Offshore wind power stations generate significantly more electricity and more regularly than their onshore counterparts. In the lead project (Leitprojekt) H2Mare, scientists are working to exploit this potential – and to produce green hydrogen and derivative products directly at sea in the future. Current progress is being made, among other things, in the coupling of wind turbines and electrolyzers.
For hydrogen to be able to be used as an important part of the energy transition comprehensively in industry, mobility and energy supply in Germany, new lines must be built and existing natural gas pipelines must also be upgraded for hydrogen transport. This can be challenging, as hydrogen is explosive and attacks the materials of the pipes. Professional material testing creates the necessary security regarding this.
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...
There is extensive demand for hydrogen in both municipalities and industry. In this environment, plans for implementing these market requirements are now becoming more concrete. The recent decision to set up an H2 core network (see p. 18) is seen as the initial spark for this. In view of the supply situation, however, it is clear that the focus must increasingly be on the distribution network, which was also made clear at the DVGW Congress.
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 hydrogen economy as a crucial technology for replacing fossil resources is subject to high expectations in terms of sustainability. Hardly any other growth area is the subject of such controversial discussions about how ‘green’ it really is. In the context of resources, the hydrogen economy however is about more than just ideological considerations. Electrolysers and fuel cells contain rare and valuable raw materials, such as the precious metals iridium and platinum. From economic and strategic perspectives, they must be recovered after the end of their life. Recycling is a must—and should be considered from the outset, not only when the end of life of the plants and vehicles is reached. But where does the circular economy stand today in the context of hydrogen? We provide an overview using the example of PEM technology.
The course to success of Siqens began with special methanol fuel cells. Then came the electrochemical hydrogen separation (EHS) in addition, based on the self-developed HT-PEM-FC stacks. With their help, hydrogen can be separated from natural gas or waste gases from industry and waste incineration with a high degree of purity. The manufacturer also sees EHS in combination with its own fuel cells as a solution to the last mile problem.
