Model for a fossil-free energy future

For some time now, a small municipality in Nordfriesland has been making a name for itself in energy technology, as the supplying of heat through the new network from Bosbüll is anything other than standard. Through a power-to-X concept and a triple-sector coupling, the Ü20 wind and solar power installations remain profitable even in post-EEG … Read more

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Czech Republic not limiting itself to green hydrogen

The Czech Republic is not exactly one of the major promoters of hydrogen technology in Central Eastern Europe. The country is still delayed in the expansion of wind and solar energy. The share of PV and wind power plants in total electricity generation in the Czech Republic was just 3.7 percent last year. With this, … Read more

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Fuel cell MEAs without “forever chemicals”

The threat to humans and the environment posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has long been known. It was not until February 2023 that numerous daily newspapers reported on the extent of PFAS contamination in Europe and effectively brought the issue to public attention. PFASs are also used in fuel cells. The startup Ionysis … Read more

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JCB reaches hydrogen landmark

In March, British manufacturer of agricultural and construction equipment JCB announced the production of its 50th hydrogen combustion engine as part of the company’s drive toward net-zero. Still at the pre-series stage, the engines will be used for further testing and development. So far the technology has been demonstrated in working prototypes of a backhoe … Read more

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H2GO – freight mobility in the hydrogen age

Increasing volumes of freight transport have resulted in a continuing rise in carbon dioxide emissions within the sector, despite progress being made on fuel consumption and tailpipe technology. Consequently, heavy-duty transportation particularly is in urgent need of fossil fuel alternatives. Fraunhofer IWU, together with 18 other Fraunhofer institutes, is working relentlessly to create the baseline conditions needed … Read more

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En route to a regional hydrogen economy

As part of the German transportation ministry’s HyLand grant program, the Kulmbach district was awarded HyStarter status in spring 2022, prompting a concerted push to create a regional hydrogen economy. To support the initiative, a stakeholder group was formed with representatives from local businesses, organizations, associations and academia. Work to date has included the organization … Read more

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Methane without hydrogen

Synthetic energy carriers like chemically produced methane can make green energy transportable and storable for long periods. The problem: The production is associated with relatively high energy losses. On top of that, the processes up to now also require additional purification of the methane. Researchers from the Swiss materials institute Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt (EMPA) … Read more

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Stepping in to make a difference

Recently, the German government presented a draft provision on Klimaschutzverträge, also called Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfD) in the EU. On the basis of a 15-year contract between the government and the business, those who do their production in a climate-friendly manner are to receive money for investments as well as annual funds as compensation … Read more

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A hydrogen infrastructure for the energy transition

Green hydrogen is to help many sectors achieve climate neutrality in the future. Yet there are still gaps for the implementation of it in transport as well as storage. The H2 lead project TransHyDE, funded by the German ministry for education and research (BMBF), is looking at various chemical transport options for green hydrogen: gaseous … Read more

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How rust can advance H2 technology

When iron rusts, it takes up oxygen. If this does not come from the air but from water vapor, hydrogen is left behind. This effect could become the basis for a new energy storage technology. Several research groups and companies are already working on bringing such a storage method based on ordinary iron to market. … Read more

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Hydrogen for the energy transition

The increase of renewable electricity production and the resulting surplus lead us to ask: How toimprove energy efficiency through the use of hydrogen? This 2nd edition of Power-to-Gas covers the global energy issues (generation, distribution, consumption, markets), the production of hydrogen via electrolysis, its transportation and storage or conversion in another form. It takes account … Read more

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