Green economy: powering up hydrogen

In partnership with The European Commission
Green economy: powering up hydrogen
Copyright euronews
By Paul Hackett
Share this article
Share this articleClose Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below:Copy to clipboardCopied

Business Planet heads to Germany to discover how one firm's hydrogen technology could bridge the gap in the quest for clean energy.

Business Planet looks at how one German firm's hydrogen technology could bridge the gap in the quest for clean energy.

For decades hydrogen has been touted as a fuel of the future. But despite its huge potential to decarbonise the economy, the element has never really lived up to its enormous promise.

German firm Hydrogenious, however, reckons hydrogen's day in the sun has finally arrived. The company says its tech can safely store, handle and transport hydrogen at low cost. That is important for so-called 'green' hydrogen - hydrogen made without fossil fuels - as it provides the means to link renewable energy production sites, like wind farms and solar power plants, to areas where the hydrogen is most needed.

“Our technology allows for the safe and efficient storage of hydrogen in a liquid carrier which is fully compatible with today’s infrastructure for liquid fuels. And, in terms of its potential, we really want to facilitate the large-scale implementation of green hydrogen infrastructure all over Europe, with a big target and vision to really decarbonise Europe, decarbonise mobility, decarbonise industry and therefore really contributing to our efforts against climate change,” says Daniel Teichmann, Hydrogenious' Founder & CEO.

© Euronews
"We really want to facilitate the large-scale implementation of 'green' hydrogen infrastructure all over Europe," explains Hydrogenious CEO Daniel Teichmann.© Euronews

Out of the blue: 'Green' hydrogen

Right now most of the hydrogen currently produced and consumed comes from fossil fuels, but it can also be made with renewable electricity by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using a process called electrolysis.

The EU has made it a top priority to create 13 times more clean hydrogen than today by 2024. By 2030, the goal is 130 times more - or 10 million tonnes. To help make that happen, the European Commission has set up the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance. Open to all public and private players, the Alliance seeks to mobilise investment by bringing government and industry together. Hydrogenious is already a member, as is SolarPower Europe.

© Euronews
Hydrogen can be produced with renewable electricity made from wind or solar power.© Euronews

“You know accelerating the production of clean hydrogen is critical to decarbonising sectors such as aviation or shipping. And this is where the Clean Hydrogen Alliance comes in," explains SolarPower Europe's CEO, Walburga Hemetsberger. "It is aiming to accelerate the production of hydrogen and ensure that this hydrogen is fully sustainable. And this is essential, as Europe’s hydrogen production today is based largely on fossil fuels," she adds.

We have the potential to build a robust industrial eco-system that will make Europe a world leader in clean hydrogen solutions.

Teichmann insists the EU's plans to develop a large-scale hydrogen eco-system is crucial.

“I believe that Europe’s role is hugely important. Hydrogen needs to be thought big. In my eyes its nothing that you could implement on a national level, and therefore I believe that also the funding mechanisms that are being put in place now by the European Union are exactly what is needed in order to make green hydrogen become a reality,” he says.

© Euronews
SolarPower Europe CEO Walburga Hemetsberger believes Europe can become a world leader in clean hydrogen.© Euronews

For now, Europe's clean hydrogen capacity is no where near where it needs to be if it's to match such lofty ambitions, but those working to make it happen insist it can be done.

“The core objective of the Alliance is to gather leading European businesses, from established market leaders to startups across the entire value chain, as well as policy-makers from member states. And, that’s to kick-start the hydrogen economy. We have the potential to build a robust industrial eco-system that will make Europe a world leader in clean hydrogen solutions,” insists Hemetsberger.

Useful facts

  • Hydrogen does not emit any carbon dioxide when used. It therefore offers a solution to decarbonise industrial processes and economic sectors where reducing carbon emissions is both urgent and hard to achieve
  • The European Clean Hydrogen Alliance was announced as part of the new industrial strategy for Europe in March 2020. It is part of efforts to accelerate the decarbonisation of industry and maintain industrial leadership in Europe.
  • The Alliance will identify and build up a pipeline of viable investment projects along the hydrogen value chain, with a view to shifting away from fossil fuels.

Useful links

European Clean Hydrogen Alliance

EU hydrogen strategy

European Clean Hydrogen Alliance roundtables

Hydrogenious

SolarPower Europe

Share this article

You might also like