by Hydrogeit | May 16, 2024 | Europe, Germany, News
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 explained: “Given his wealth of experience in large multinationals, Markus Weber is the ideal replacement for the post of chief financial officer (CFO). His wide-ranging experience in transformative and dynamic working environments will be beneficial for the international growth of H-Tec Systems.”
Weber, who has a degree in business administration, was previously employed by listed company Jenoptik where he was responsible for the financial department in his role as executive vice president of controlling and accounting. Before that, he held various leadership positions at Würzburg-based printing press manufacturer Koenig & Bauer, at elumatec and in the Voith Group. According to Weber, H-Tec Systems, which is a subsidiary of MAN Energy Solutions, is a “rapidly growing company in the vitally important field of renewables, both in terms of Germany as well as the international market.”
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As of March 2024, four new vice presidents have also been appointed at H-Tec Systems: Jochen Straub, Nima Pegemanyfar, Bernd Behnke and Claudio Bravo Granadino.
by Hydrogeit | May 16, 2024 | Europe, Germany, News
Hydrogeit Verlag celebrates its 20th anniversary
The Hydrogeit Verlag publishing house has been reporting on hydrogen and fuel cell technology for more than 20 years. In these two decades, what was once a one-man operation has now become a key player in the H2 community, providing information and comment through its books and particularly through its specialist journal H2-international and its German counterpart HZwei.
It all began with a book with a very rudimentary design that was published single-handedly in 2002. The title: “Wasserstoff und Brennstoffzellen – Die Technik von morgen” (Hydrogen and Fuel Cells – The Technology of Tomorrow). Due to a lack of enthusiasm from existing publishers at that time, not to mention the outrageously low remuneration that would have been offered to the author, the first edition was released as a “book on demand,” a printing and copying process suitable for small print runs which emerged in the early aughts.
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Despite its simplistic layout, the publication still managed to find an interested readership – not least because of the lack of other books on hydrogen – as did the booklet on “Wasserstoff- und Brennstoffzellen-Projekte” (Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Projects) published shortly afterward. The book attracted the attention of graphic designer Andreas Wolter, who liked the content but thought the layout was “unworthy” and offered to raise the quality bar for the second edition. And so it was that the reworked edition appeared two years later with a slick new design, published by the newly founded Hydrogeit Verlag.
Thus Andreas Wolter was the first to join our ever-growing team. A team that makes Hydrogeit Verlag what it is today: the first, and still only, specialist publisher for hydrogen and fuel cells.
Heartfelt thanks!
We’d also like to extend a very special thank-you to everyone who has played a part in creating the books, magazines, websites and newsletters: Henrike Hiersig and Robert Müller, who never fail to be utterly reliable and conscientious in their layout work; Dione Gutzmer, who has proofread so meticulously from the start; Wolf and Kathrin Lewitz, who for many years have showed their creativity in handling all things online; Nicole Helmich and Ina Woryna from fulfillment company VAH Jager, who initially took over the shipping and now also handle the billing; Michael Suckow from printec who, along with his team, brings our creations to life in print, as well as Karlee Archer and Nicola Bottrell Hayward for rendering the German articles into English.
And – crucially – the ever-growing editorial team with Eva Augsten, Sven Jösting, Monika Rößiger, Niels Hendrik Petersen and Aleksandra Fedorska in addition to many others who – time permitting – can always be relied upon to contribute valuable content.
Needless to say, there have also been many others involved in the wide array of publishing projects, be it the hydrogen CD, the teaching material on batteries and fuel cells, the study pack on renewable raw materials or diverse books that have been and will continue to be issued.
Thanks also go to the numerous project partners that over this long period have had a considerable influence on the development of the publishing house and thus likewise on the development of the renewables sector. And, of course, we thank our loyal readers.
It is all thanks to you that Hydrogeit Verlag continues to grow and that – at least to a certain degree – the H2 and FC industry is where it is today. It’s certainly no exaggeration to say that this small publishing house has succeeded in reaching many readers, among them a number of decision-makers, something which has likely helped hydrogen and fuel cells move beyond its niche and into the mainstream.
And with this in mind, we are excited to see what may lie ahead.
Author: Sven Geitmann
by Alexandra Fedorska | May 15, 2024 | Europe, international, News
Nuclear energy also to power electrolysis in Hungary
In May 2021, Hungary published its national hydrogen strategy. It sets out how the country plans to create opportunities post-coal. According to the strategy, gray hydrogen is initially expected to be used within industry in the current decade. This will then be replaced only gradually by electrolytic hydrogen. Solar-derived hydrogen is to be produced on sites of former opencast mines, with the first plant already in operation.
Fig. 2: The electrolyzer in the Bükkábrány energy park not only produces solar hydrogen but is also used for research
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Elektrolizalo_4.jpg
Image: Bükkábrány Energiapark
The ministry for innovation and technology which is responsible for Hungary’s hydrogen strategy employs the terms “carbon-free hydrogen” and “low-carbon hydrogen” throughout its strategy paper. The expression “green hydrogen,” however, is absent. This is because the Paks nuclear power plant is due to play a major role in the country’s hydrogen production. Unlike other nations, Hungary has openly underlined its desire to put nuclear power at the center of its hydrogen energy plans.
The small town of Paks, situated a good 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Budapest on the western side of the Danube, is currently home to four working nuclear reactors which together generate 2 gigawatts of power. In addition, the Russian enterprise Rosatom is building a further two reactors at this location which are scheduled for completion in 2032. Their generation capacity is expected to be 2.4 GW. The ministry foresees the power plants in Paks supplying large quantities of cheap, carbon-free electricity that will help build the hydrogen value chain.
The ammonia and refining industries have also established themselves in the Paks area. This points toward possible synergies between the power and mobility sectors within a hydrogen economy. Iron- and steelworks are located in Dunaújváros on the eastern bank of the Danube and cement factories are found in the Transdanubia region to the west of the river. This area likewise has the potential to decarbonize through the introduction of a hydrogen economy.
Northwest: hydrogen instead of coal
Another focus region for the hydrogen economy is expected to be the northwest of the country. Here, decarbonization efforts will center on the old Mátra coal-fired power plant. The mines and the brown coal generation facility will remain operational until 2025, after which time only companies involved in machinery construction, underground engineering and biomass production will continue their activities.
It is hoped that hydrogen will ensure an equitable transition for the Mátra power plant as it moves toward an emission-free future. The intention is to manage the social and economic changes caused by phasing out coal combustion, which will affect the lives of thousands of people, with utmost care and responsibility.
Beyond Transdanubia, initial pilot projects have demonstrated that green hydrogen made using solar power has a great deal of potential here. Photovoltaic plants are being installed on the sites of former opencast mines.
One such pilot project is the Bükkábrány energy park. The scheme is being supported by the University of Szeged and partially financed from EU innovation funds. In 2019, Bükkábrány was already producing solar power on a megawatt scale. By the end of 2023 (correct at the time of publication), generation is set to reach 100 MW of PV power. A further 40 MW is anticipated between 2024 and 2025. An electrolyzer with a 1-MW capacity produces high-purity hydrogen on the site.
Although the project represents the first instance of a commercial-scale electrolyzer plant, the operator is keen to emphasize the trial nature of the project. On the website it states that the electrolyzer will make use of the generation peaks of the neighboring 22-MW solar plant, which is located in an area that was once an opencast brown coal mine. It is understood that the University of Szeged developed the control technology for the plant and has indicated interest in purchasing some of the green hydrogen produced in Bükkábrány.
National hydrogen strategy for Hungary (in English):
https://cdn.kormany.hu/uploads/document/a/a2/a2b/a2b2b7ed5179b17694659b8f050ba9648e75a0bf.pdf
Author: Aleksandra Fedorska
by Hydrogeit | May 15, 2024 | Development, Europe, Germany, News
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 approximately 30 years in diverse roles at OGE – more than 15 years of which was spent as a member of the executive board.
Lincoln Hillier Webb, chairman of OGE’s supervisory board, commented: “With Thomas Hüwener, we have not only been able to attract an outstanding candidate for the position of spokesman – we are also demonstrating that we want to continue on the path of transformation we have embarked on.” Speaking on the subject of his new post, Hüwener said: “We have many decisive years ahead of us – both in the development of the hydrogen network and in the establishment of a CO2 transportation system. Together with the OGE team, I look forward to tackling these challenges and productively shaping the future of the company.”
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by Hydrogeit | May 15, 2024 | Europe, Germany, hydrogen development, international, News, Policy
3rd funding wave for H2 infrastructure measures
The decision has finally come. In mid-February 2024, the European Commission approved 24 German IPCEI projects aka Important Projects of Common European Interest. Within the framework of IPCEI Hydrogen, funding is granted to large-scale projects across the entire hydrogen value chain – from H2 production and transportation to storage infrastructure and industrial deployment.
These projects are approved by the European Commission in several “waves.” In the current third wave, attention was turned to infrastructure schemes involving a total of seven EU member states (Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Slovakia). Across all projects, the aim is to build almost 3,000 kilometers (1,900 miles) of H2 pipelines, more than 3.2 gigawatts of H2 production capacity in addition to approximately 370 gigawatt-hours of H2 storage capacity.
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“While the renewable hydrogen supply chain in Europe is still in a nascent phase, Hy2Infra will deploy the initial building blocks of an integrated and open renewable hydrogen network. This IPCEI will establish the first regional infrastructure clusters in several Member States and prepare the ground for future interconnections across Europe, in line with the European Hydrogen Strategy. This will support the market ramp-up of renewable hydrogen supply and take us steps closer to making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.”
Vice President of the European Commission Margrethe Vestager, responsible for competition policy
“For a successful roll-out of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen, all pieces of the puzzle need to come together. With this new Important Project of Common European Interest, 32 companies, including 5 SMEs, will invest in hydrogen infrastructure, for a total of more than 12 billion euro of private and public investment, to match supply and demand of hydrogen. It provides industries with more options to decarbonise their activities while boosting their competitiveness and creating jobs.”
EU Commissioner Thierry Breton
“I’m pleased that the wait for European funding approval has come to an end. It means we have made an important step toward realizing our hydrogen project. I now hope that we will soon receive funding approval from the German government so that we have a good basis for making the final investment decision within our committees.”
EWE Chief Executive Officer Stefan Dohler
It is expected that member states will provide up to EUR 6.9 billion in public funding which will then unlock EUR 5.4 billion in private investment. Involved in the 33 projects is a total of 32 companies, with small- and medium-sized businesses among them. Thus the IPCEI Hy2Infra should go some way in “helping to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal and the REPowerEU Plan,” according to Brussels.
Most of the participating companies have been waiting a long time for this go-ahead to be given, which will enable them to finally kick off their projects. It is anticipated that several large electrolyzers will be commissioned between 2026 and 2028 and a number of pipelines will be brought into service between 2027 and 2029.
Fig. 2: Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies plans, as part of its Green Hydrogen@Blue Danube project, to trial benzyltoluene as a hydrogen carrier for the purpose of ensuring safe and efficient transportation of green hydrogen for supplying industrial off-takers in the Danube region
Hydrogenious_LOHC_ReleasePLANT_Rendering, Source: Hydrogenious,
IPCEI
The IPCEI Hy2Tech, which focuses on the development of hydrogen technologies for end consumers, was approved on July 15, 2022. This was followed in the second wave on Sept. 21, 2022, by the IPCEI Hy2Use which targets hydrogen applications in the industrial sector.
“IPCEI Hy2Infra contributes to a common objective by supporting the deployment of hydrogen infrastructure important for achieving the objectives of key EU policy initiatives such as the European Green Deal, the REPowerEU Plan and the EU Hydrogen Strategy.
All 33 projects included in the IPCEI are highly ambitious, as they aim at developing infrastructure that go [sic] beyond what the market currently offers. They will lay the first building blocks for an integrated and open hydrogen network, accessible on non-discriminatory terms, and enable the market ramp-up of renewable hydrogen supply in Europe. This will allow for the decarbonisation of economic sectors that depend on hydrogen to reduce their carbon emissions.
Aid to individual companies is limited to what is necessary and proportionate, and does not unduly distort competition.”
European Commission
by Lewitz | Apr 30, 2024 | Development, Europe, Fuel cells, Germany, News
“Today is a good day for industry location Germany, climate protection and sustainable jobs in our country” – German economy and climate protection minister Robert Habeck was referring to the first bidding process for carbon contracts for difference, which the German government launched in mid-March 2024.
Fig.: Robert Habeck explains his policy
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Habeck.jpg – Wolf, bitte die Bildqualität so gut wie möglich optimieren
Source: Screenshot BMWK (German economy ministry) video
“With the carbon contracts for difference, firstly, we are promoting modern, climate-friendly industrial systems of tomorrow. Through this will come new technologies, value chains and infrastructures. This helps, secondly, industry worldwide to switch to climate-friendly production. And thirdly, with the carbon contracts for difference, we are setting new international standards for efficient and low-bureaucracy funding,” he added.
Abroad, this step will be admired with envy, according to Habeck: “Cool what you’re doing in Germany. We want that too.”
Even if some people in Germany don’t like to hear that – because they are all too willing to participate in Habeck bashing – you have to give him credit for getting a lot of things off the ground during his time in office. And if representatives of the chemical industry in particular describe these carbon contracts as a “right step,” not everything can have been wrong.
Opinions on Habeck are currently divided: For some, he is not green enough, too pro-business, too industry-friendly – for others, he is too green, too idealistic, too poetic.
But if you look at what has been kicked off in recent months – in particular due to Habeck’s commitment – it can be seen, even with strong climate protection glasses: Germany has come through the last few winters well and now has several LNG terminals built in record time. Germany is gradually getting the energy policy framework that so many people have been calling for, which provides planning security – be it in the heating or transportation sector, but especially in the industrial sector.
Germany is making efforts to keep energy-intensive companies in the steel, glass, cement and chemical industries in particular in the country and to accommodate them. Germany is also forging international partnerships for the import of hydrogen and the transfer of technological expertise (see H2-international May 2024: p. 12 – Norway as partner country of Hannover Messe).
In addition, the IPCEI projects are finally gaining momentum (see p. 28), and even the update to the 37th ordinance on implementation of German emissions reduction law (37. Verordnung zur Durchführung des Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetzes) was passed by the German parliament on March 14, 2024.
These and many other measures have led, among other things, to a 10.1 percent reduction in climate emissions in 2023 compared to 2022, which corresponds to the largest decrease in CO2 equivalents since 1990.
Yes, this decline is certainly due in part to Germany’s currently reduced economic strength. So? It is quite clear that a transformative process in the energy sector means that production cannot continue at the same level as before. And exactly this is wanted, because we can no longer afford to waste as much energy and as many resources as before.
A moderate decline in economic power is, in my opinion, very manageable for the time being and should be viewed positively, as this is precisely what will break up outdated structures and ensure the country’s future viability. It will now be a matter of keeping the right degree in sight, to find a balance between pressure to act and reasonableness.
This applies not only to the government, but also to the people, who also possess a great deal of responsibility – be it the choice of the next car or the next heating system. Less grumbling and more sustainable action can sometimes work wonders.
