Hydrogen Industry Leaders’ Post

Hydrogen is the fuel of the future! It ALWAYS will be. 🧐 What's most problematic here is not the poor prospects for H2 to provide low/zero emission fuel, it's that (DW concludes) oil and gas companies continue to lobby for government attention on their preferred model (fuel, not electricity) by artificially propping up hopes for H2. Apparently, they'll do so as long as it keeps working. Trying not to be too cynical, why are there still so many companies trying to make H2 work? I have been surprised at every ACT Expo by the size of the hydrogen contingent there. The booths are big, but empty of customers, and no one in them has good technical answers for the fundamental issues with H2 as transportation fuel. I spent a little time earnestly asking engineers in the H2 booths what they saw in the future for hydrogen as EV fuel. The general message was that costs will surely come down if they have time and investment. That's been the line since before I was born. I won't reiterate the trade-offs that make H2 the $600 champagne of fuels, reserved for the most special of situations. Watch the video if that's new to you During my first career path, I read about the problems welding engineering would need to solve for 'the hydrogen economy'. The book had a copyright date in the 1960s, and those problems remain! An optimistic view is that the oil and gas industry is trying to pivot to a fuel that works with their core competency of moving fluids, and physics keeps stopping them however long they try. More cynically, and what this analysis suggests, is that the fossil lobby is forcibly holding electrification back by continually forcing the promise of "almost ready!" H2 in front of regulators despite its abysmal prospects to be a scalable fuel. Creating a false impression of technology uncertainty delays electrification and allows the fossil companies to continue making revenue on methane and petroleum. https://lnkd.in/gxWM_gCy

Hydrogen is a paradox. Abundant throughout the universe, but priced as a relatively scarce commodity on earth. Colourless, but available in many different colours. A zero-emissions energy source that is today derived from emissions-intensive hydrocarbons. At ZeroAvia, they’ve long believed hydrogen fuel cell technologies are the future of zero-emissions flight – and now we’re making it happen. They’re hard at work building hydrogen-electric powertrains for 40 to 80-seater regional aircraft, with first deployment expected in 2027.

In September 2024, Turbotech, Safran and Air Liquide completed ground demonstration testing of a hydrogen-fueled gas turbine aero-engine based on an ultra-efficient regenerative cycle fed from a liquid hydrogen tank. #hydrogeninsights #hydrogennews #hydrogen https://lnkd.in/eWcnjtdE

“During my first career path, I read about the problems welding engineering would need to solve for 'the hydrogen economy'. The book had a copyright date in the 1960s, and those problems remain! An optimistic view is that the oil and gas industry is trying to pivot to a fuel that works with their core competency of moving fluids, and physics keeps stopping them however long they try. More cynically, and what this analysis suggests, is that the fossil lobby is forcibly holding electrification back by continually forcing the promise of "almost ready!" H2 in front of regulators despite its abysmal prospects to be a scalable fuel. Creating a false impression of technology uncertainty delays electrification and allows the fossil companies to continue making revenue on methane and petroleum.” #cleanenergy

💡 "Why Germany Needs Hydrogen" – Join our FREE #WEBINAR on November 20: www.mission-hydrogen.com   Reinhold Wurster is sometimes described as the "Wikipedia of Hydrogen" – and it’s not hard to understand why. With over 40 years of experience, he has answers to every hydrogen-related question:   ✅ Leak rates of pipelines in Louisiana? He knows. ✅ The role of nickel content in hydrogen embrittlement? He’ll explain it. ✅ Page 17 of the Japanese National Hydrogen Strategy? Memorized. ✅ How many fuel cell buses each Chinese manufacturer has built? He’ll give you detailed specs.   In our upcoming webinar, Reinhold Wurster, Senior Consultant at LBST and co-founder of the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (DWV), will explore Germany’s need for hydrogen. But here’s the kicker: substitute “Germany” for any country with similar conditions, and you’ll gain insights into global hydrogen opportunities.   Here’s what you will learn: ✔ The political backdrop and hydrogen’s role in tackling climate change ✔ Energy storage solutions: hydrogen vs. batteries vs. pumped hydro ✔ Europe’s path to energy self-sufficiency and the European Hydrogen Backbone ✔ Hydrogen’s role in mobility, aviation, shipping, and heavy industries ✔ eFuels, eKerosene, ammonia, methanol, and more ✔ Real-world case studies from decades of hydrogen innovation #MissionHydrogen #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #eFuels

Having worked with Reinhold Wurster for more than 30 years at LBST, we fully confirm that he is the "Wikipedia of Hydrogen", as David Wenger wrote in his teaser for tomorrow's Mission Hydrogen webinar. We can only recommend joining this free webinar to gain further insights! We're delighted to answer any further questions you may have about hydrogen! Please don't hesitate to contact Reinhold Wurster or any LBST colleague. #Hydrogen #HydrogenInGermany #HydrogenForEveryone

Japan Advances Towards Mass Production of Hydrogen Fuel Trains - https://lnkd.in/gUtfJGMr TOKYO, Apr 25 (News On Japan) - The inaugural meeting of a national expert panel focused on mass-producing hydrogen fuel cell trains, viewed as viable alternatives to diesel engines in rural areas, was held recently, as part of the initiative to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. During the meeting, discussions centered on the safety measures for handling high-pressure hydrogen gas, among other technical topics. Katsumi Kishitani, Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), emphasized the importance of this transition. "Replacing diesel cars currently operating on non-electrified sections with hydrogen fuel cell rail vehicles as soon as possible is a critical issue for the MLIT," he stated. On April 24, the MLIT convened this panel of experts to develop standards for the safe implementation and mass production of hydrogen fuel trains. The meeting featured presentations on current research and operational examples from Europe, the United States, and within Japan, setting the stage for future in-depth discussions on standards for emergency responses and the placement of high-pressure hydrogen gas facilities. Domestically, East Japan Railway Company's "HYBARI" project is progressing with plans for implementation by the 2030 fiscal year, involving ongoing experiments and development efforts. Source: ANN https://lnkd.in/gqdmQHHz Source

A good intro to the Hydrogen landscape.

In my next series of posts, I want to discuss the tremendous potential Hydrogen has as a fuel source in decarbonizing our economies. Hydrogen is a clean, non-pollutant gas. It is extremely flammable and has great energy density. Hydrogen in its base form is very minute on our planet and thus has to be obtained by breaking down sources like water, metallic compounds and fossil fuels such as methane (natural gas). Here are some of the methods used: -Electrolysis: Electrolysis is a process that uses electricity to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. By passing an electric current through water, the hydrogen ions (H+) are attracted to the cathode, where they gain electrons to form hydrogen gas (H2). Oxygen is formed at the anode. -Plasma Arc Decomposition: Involves use of high temperatures generated by an electric arc to break down methane into hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The process occurs in a plasma reactor, where the intense heat dissociates the methane molecules, releasing hydrogen gas. Thermolysis: Thermolysis is a hydrogen production method that involves the decomposition of a chemical compound, such as water or hydrocarbons, through the application of heat. By subjecting the compound to high temperatures, the molecular bonds are broken, resulting in the release of hydrogen gas. -  When any of the methods above are powered by renewable energy, the resulting Hydrogen produced is called “Green” Hydrogen.   Some great applications of Hydrogen are in: -  Metals Industry: Hydrogen can be used in the refining process as a reducing agent to remove oxygen from metal ore. Currently this is done via the use of coke (Carbon), which creates carbon dioxide as a by-product.   - Electricity Generation: Hydrogen can be used as a fuel for combustion that turn gas turbines to generate electricity. Several countries are exploring the use of hydrogen in their power generation mix to decarbonize the electricity sector. -Transportation: Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) powered by hydrogen are being developed and deployed by automakers such as Toyota, Hyundai, and BMW. Source: https://lnkd.in/ez6rjSwn #Hydrogen #Fuelcells #Decarbonisation #Zeroemissionfuture