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.

A hydrogen generator powered by a Toyota fuel cell and a new battery storage system are intended to replace diesel generators on construction sites. French manufacturer EODev presented both solutions for the first time in Germany at the Bauma trade fair.

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.

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.

Hydrogenious LOHC has received official approval to build and operate what it claims to be the world's largest commercial hydrogen storage facility using the liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) benzyltoluene.

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.

“Two years ago, we were still discussing an ‘All Electric World’ in Berlin. Now it's clear we need both – molecules and electrons.” With these words, the state of Niedersachen’s economy minister Olaf Lies summarized well at this year’s Hannover Messe where we stand today. At the political level, however, this seems to not have been reached by everyone. Otherwise, the quasi funding freeze for H₂ activities at present can hardly be explained. Reason enough for the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) to send a pleading letter to Berlin (see p. 33) – and trigger for a palpable dispute among economic experts.

A joint application for EU funding shall help more than 50 partners to develop the Rhein-Ruhr region into Europe’s leading hydrogen region. The consortium plans, among other things, 77 MW of electrolysis capacity and the expansion of hydrogen infrastructure for commercial vehicles.

Following Abo Energy, Energiequelle has also announced a major project in Finland’s Oulu region. Electrolysis capacity of up to 500 MW could be installed there by 2033.

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.

Green hydrogen is an important building block of the energy transition. With its help, regenerative energy can be stored and used as needed in a wide variety of sectors. But how will the generation, storage, distribution and use of hydrogen come together? An answer to this question is the goal of the project H₂VL of the regional district (Landkreis) Havelland: Various local players along the entire hydrogen value chain are being identified, networked and supported in the implementation of their projects – from production through distribution to use. For this, Havelland is being supported by the German transport ministry, through the hydrogen and fuel cell innovation support program NIP2, with nearly 400,000 euros as one of the 15 winners of the title HyExpert Region.

Daimler Buses will deliver ten fuel cell buses featuring a new, pure hydrogen drive mode to SSB Stuttgart. These vehicles are part of a strategy aimed at integrating various alternative drive systems within the fleet.

With the procurement of ten fuel cell buses, SSB concludes the trial phase of...

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.

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.

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.