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Green hydrogen comes out on top

Green hydrogen comes out on top

Trend in hydrogen production in the EU, © Hydrogen4EU

© Hydrogen4EU

Germany plans to overdeliver on EU targets

 

Climate change has become a hot topic in the runup to the German election, with politicians imbued with a new sense of urgency. In April 2021, Germany’s constitutional court published its ruling on the country’s Climate Change Act, triggering the need for swift action to toughen up emission targets: In just a few days the federal cabinet agreed to a new climate law which then quickly received its blessing from the powers that be. Preparations to implement European RED II legislation have also been progressing at speed. So what does this mean for the hydrogen and fuel cell sector? (more…)

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Stellantis launches H2 van on the market

Stellantis launches H2 van on the market

Citroën ë-Jumpy Hydrogen, © Citroën

© Citroën

After years of silence regarding Opel’s fuel cell activities, the German automobile manufacturer came back in mid-May 2021 with an H2 van Vivaro-e Hydrogen – and with it the French sister companies Peugeot and Citroën, both of which also belong to the parent company Stellantis. The major corporation designed its own “mid-power plug-in hydrogen fuel cell electric system” for the three brands, consisting of a 100-kW drive combined with a 45-kW fuel cell from the French manufacturer Symbio and a high-voltage power storage unit. (more…)

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Large-scale hydrogen projects on the Arabian Peninsula

Large-scale hydrogen projects on the Arabian Peninsula

© OQ

Oman and Saudi Arabia’s plans to export solar energy

Sun-soaked countries around the world are inevitably destined for solar-powered hydrogen production. Yet while many look to Australia, Chile or Morocco as prime locations, the Middle East is also gaining attention. Nations such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the Sultanate of Oman, well known for their bountiful oil resources, have now recognized another useful asset – their copious sunshine – and one which is ideally suited to making hydrogen. (more…)

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Will methanol fuel cells see a comeback?

Will methanol fuel cells see a comeback?

Electric buggy powered by a methanol fuel cell, © Dino Eisele

Buggy powered by methanol fuell cell, © Dino Eisele

In the 1990s, methanol was seen as a possible new source of power for fuel cell electric vehicles. And yet, at the turn of the century, it nearly fell out of favor altogether, as the equipment needed to burn the fuel was much more complex than systems that used hydrogen only. Still, the past few years have seen renewed efforts to bring methanol fuel cells to market. Some weeks ago, Roland Gumpert, the engineer who spearheaded the development of Audi Quattro’s four-wheel drive, was back in the news, talking about his latest project, a sports car named after his daughter Nathalie (see H2-international, April 2019). (more…)

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New hydrogen and fuel cell partnerships

New hydrogen and fuel cell partnerships

Luca de Meo (Renault Group, left) and Andy Marsh (Plug Power), © Renault

© Renault

The time has come for new collaborations in the hydrogen sector. As noted in this year’s May issue, the number of reports about company mergers and new partnerships has increased steadily over the past months. One example of this is the partnership formed by electrolyzer manufacturer Nel after its recent foray into the solar market. In early May, the group announced that one of its subsidiaries, Nel Hydrogen Electrolyser, is now working with First Solar, a manufacturer of PV modules, to design integrated solar-hydrogen power plants.
A short time later, news broke that Danish hydrogen business Everfuel and Norwegian aluminum maker Norsk Hydro signed a memorandum of understanding to improve conditions for electrolyzers in Europe. The agreement contemplates installing the Hydrogen Distribution Centers that are being developed by Everfuel at electrolyzer sites near Norsk Hydro’s aluminum smelters to ensure the fast and safe refueling of the latter company’s hydrogen trailers. (more…)

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Portable multi-gas analyzer

Portable multi-gas analyzer

spectrum portable multi-gas analyzer, © BOSCH

© BOSCH

Researchers working for Bosch and Linde are developing a new, portable device called an Optical Gas Spectrometer, or OGS. The unit is said to be capable of detecting nearly all types of impurities found in hydrogen and CNG and allow for a detailed analysis of gas compositions.
Despite being as small as a shoe box, the device provides the same functionality as spectrometers used in laboratories. While Linde Gas is now putting the first fully functional prototype through its paces, Bosch is looking for additional partners to improve and beta-test the unit. (more…)

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