New Sustainable Hydrogen Ecosystem Drives Energy Transition Forward

The use of hydrogen as a building block of the energy transition requires the development of complete ecosystems that cover all aspects of the value chain and require sound logistical planning – from site planning, transport infrastructure and route planning to continuing education for staff and fleet management. But how do you build such an ecosystem from scratch? 

There are plans to operate more hydrogen vehicles, including waste collection vehicles, tourist boats, and aircraft, but also to use hydrogen for decarbonization in the local steelworks. With the support of Fraunhofer IML in the EASTGATEH2V project, the region is set to become a hydrogen valley by 2031. The aim is to establish an entire ecosystem for production, storage, handling and use. The boundaries of the hydrogen network, which is funded by the European Union with almost 9 million euros, are permeable: a hydrogen network for the whole of Slovakia could be created from Košice, which would also connect neighboring Ukraine.

“Numerous hydrogen valleys are currently emerging in Europe,“ explains Philipp Müller from Fraunhofer IML, who conducts research in the fields of transport logistics and hydrogen. The Westphalian city of Unna is located just under 1,000 kilometers from Košice. There, too, the goal is to use hydrogen for heavy-duty vehicles. Unna wants to drive forward decarbonization in the areas of transport, public transport, and waste disposal. The potential that hydrogen can offer in this context is currently being investigated in a preliminary study by the “H2 Logistics Hub“ project, in which TU Dortmund University and Fraunhofer IML are working together. The study aims to show what steps and players are needed to build a hydrogen ecosystem with local partners.

The hydrogen economy encompasses more than just the use of the end product: numerous other aspects must be considered between production and consumption. In addition to the construction of production facilities and use by consumers, transport infrastructure and means of transport are also central to the success of the new ecosystems. Special transport containers, for example, are necessary to meet the specific requirements of hydrogen transport. In the “H2LogisticsOnRail“ project, researchers at Fraunhofer IML have teamed up with industry partners to develop a multimodal transport container that can be used on roads, rails, and waterways − a significant step toward the sustainable transport of green hydrogen.

“Fortunately, even in the hydrogen sector, we don't always have to reinvent the wheel,“ emphasizes Müller. Parts of existing infrastructure can be used or repurposed for hydrogen transport, such as the (transport) infrastructure for ammonia. Ammonia is particularly suitable for storing hydrogen because it is easier to liquefy and has a higher energy density. The potential of decentralized infrastructures for ammonia as a hydrogen derivative for Germany as an industrial location is currently being investigated in the AmmonVektor project, in which numerous Fraunhofer institutes are involved. Researchers at Fraunhofer IML are using large hydrogen and ammonia sources and sinks to model which supply options make the most sense for various application scenarios from a logistical and economic perspective.

“The development of a hydrogen ecosystem requires a strong commitment from all relevant stakeholders, including energy-intensive industries,“ explains transport logistics researcher Philipp Müller. The steel industry in particular could benefit greatly from decarbonization through hydrogen. Even if a hydrogen bus in a small Slovakian town makes an important contribution to the energy transition, it is only the cornerstone for the emergence of entire decarbonized industries in the future.

With the expansion of infrastructure, the development of new technologies and collaboration of companies, research institutions and policymakers, a sustainable ecosystem could emerge that drives the energy transition forward on a broad basis. The goal is to create an environmentally friendly, efficient, and future-proof economy that paves the way for a climate-friendly society.