H₂ – cornerstone for the future energy system
Facing the storage challenge
Storing electricity for a longer period of time is one of the biggest challenges of the energy transition. An electricity market based on renewable energies requires energy supply to meet demand at any time. Wind and solar power are not always there when the energy is needed.Key technology: Hydrogen storage
Hydrogen-based energy storage systems can absorb fluctuations and, like a buffer, ensure a demand-based energy supply. If there is a lot of wind and a lot of sunshine, but little electricity is needed, the electricity can be converted into hydrogen by electrolysis and stored. In times of high electricity demand, the hydrogen is converted back into electrical energy by means of a fuel cell or gas engine. This makes H₂ storage systems a key technology for the future energy world.
There is more power in H2
H₂ can carry green power to the industrial, mobility and heating sectors, thus making climate neutrality possible. H₂ is also relevant for material use, e. g. as a feedstock for chemical products.
Market of the future
A huge market is currently developing for hydrogen. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs (BMWi) predicts a turnover of 800 billion euros per year for Europe alone by 2050. All stages of value chain will benefit: generation, storage and use – and, of course, everyone who makes technologies available to this new market.Public investment programs
Impressive financial resources are available to stimulate the market upturn: The EU adopted a Green Deal with 1 trillion euro investment and with H₂ as the key element. The German Government adopted a national hydrogen strategy with a total volume of 7 billion euros. More and more countries are developing a hydrogen strategy: Outside of Europe, for example, Japan has been working on H₂ for years. Countries like South Korea are also very active.