Hydrogen pioneers: This is how Rostock becomes the climate saving capital!

Hydrogen pioneers: This is how Rostock becomes the climate saving capital!

Hydrogen technology is a hot topic that concerns not only scientists, but also business and politics in Germany. At the 20th Baltic Transport Forum in Rostock-Warnemünde, hydrogen was the focus of discussion. Christopher Stanik from the National Organization for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW) informed the approximately 50 participants about the progress and investments of the last few years. While we were able to take a look at innovative ideas at the forum, the importance of water as a clean energy source for the future became clear: Germany aims to become climate neutral by 2045. A real challenge, but there's something there!

Since 2016, the Federal Ministry of Transport has funded around 120 research and development projects in this area with a total of 536 million euros. In total, the funding volume for these projects amounts to around 900 million euros, which underlines the high relevance of hydrogen technology for the German economy. Further projects may be added by the end of the current funding program next year. The topic of hydrogen was not only of purely technical interest; The lectures presented practical examples and new developments and promoted lively exchange between science and industry.

Hydrogen as an energy source of the future

But why is hydrogen so important? CO2-neutral hydrogen, which is obtained from wind power, for example, is considered a crucial energy storage for a sustainable future. Because it is produced by electrolysis, in which water is broken down into hydrogen and oxygen. This is an energy-intensive method, but the benefits of hydrogen outweigh it. When hydrogen is burned, only water is produced and no climate-damaging greenhouse gases are released. This could be the solution to many problems of the energy transition, which is supported by renewable energies, as the Federal Ministry of Economics reports.

An example of the use of hydrogen in regional transport is the municipal transport company Rebus in the Rostock district. It operates a fleet of over 52 hydrogen buses and two hydrogen filling stations in Bad Doberan and Güstrow. The range of these hydrogen buses is an impressive 500 kilometers per refueling, making them a practical, environmentally friendly alternative to public transport.

Technological development and challenges

The different “colors” of hydrogen show that there are different ways to produce it. Green hydrogen is produced from renewable electricity, while gray hydrogen is produced from natural gas and produces CO2 emissions. There is also blue hydrogen, which combines carbon capture and storage. To produce green hydrogen, the researchers rely on technologies such as alkaline electrolysis or proton exchange membrane electrolysis, which show great potential for future developments. Additional technologies are currently being tested to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of hydrogen production, as described by Fraunhofer ISE.

A look into the future shows that hydrogen technologies go far beyond mobility. They are a component of the energy transition and offer solutions for storing and transporting energy as well as for a more flexible energy supply. A dream of the future, but one that has already been initiated in many parts of Germany and Europe.