A new German hydrogen cluster has received €860mn ($737mn) in funding from the federal government.

The Helmholtz cluster in the Rheinische Revier area of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia will research, develop and demonstrate technologies for the production, transport and use of green hydrogen, and will be known as HC-H2.

Research will initially focus on technologies relating to the injection of hydrogen into natural gas networks and the transport of hydrogen in liquid form by attachment to easily liquefiable carriers that can be handled in a similar way to conventional fossil fuels—known as liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs).

LOHCs allow hydrogen to be carried on ships or trucks more safely and easily.

“The promotion of the HC-H2 is an essential element in developing the Rheinische Revier into a hydrogen model region with pan-European radiance,” says Thomas Rachel, parliamentary state secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Much of the industrial activity in the region focuses on lignite, and the project hopes to create new jobs in the hydrogen economy as it transitions away from the fuel.

“The promotion of the HC-H2 is an essential element in developing the Rhenish Revier into a hydrogen model region with pan-European radiance,” Rachel, ministry of education and research

The German government has passed a law requiring the country to phase out all lignite production and use by 2038.

Germany presented its national hydrogen strategy in June 2020, make it one of the first countries in the world to do so.

The strategy foresees hydrogen demand of 90-110TWh by 2030. Electrolysers with a total capacity of up to 5GW are to be built in Germany by the same date to help meet this demand along with imports.

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Author: Tom Young