Equipment

Today’s global energy systems are based on two major elements: methane (CH₄) and electricity. However, this is set to change in the not-too-distant future. We expect future energy networks to be like today’s networks—the biggest change is that hydrogen (H₂) will replace CH₄ in the gas grid.

As the journey to the global energy transition continues, various companies from different regions and sectors are collaborating to meet global decarbonization goals. These companies find ways to contribute by utilizing their unique skill sets. An equipment manufacturer may focus on H₂ internal combustion engines, while a petrochemical manufacturer may focus on green ammonia as a fertilizer, which can also be used as a H₂ carrier.

The September H₂Tech Tech Spotlight explores technological advances in H₂ technology, such as an anion-conducting membrane for electrolysis, structured catalyst for steam methane reforming, precise measurements in flow plate production for fuel cells and H₂ valves.

As commercial and industrial vehicle manufacturers search for more sustainable fuel alternatives to fossil fuels, hydrogen (H₂) fuel cell electric vehicles are gaining popularity. H₂-based fuels are beginning to experience their own renaissance, but H2’s chemical and physical properties challenge its implementation in refueling stations, inhibiting further adoption.

With electrolysis, no carbon or other pollutants are produced. However, transforming water into its di-elemental constituents requires more energy than generating H₂ from fossil fuels. For this reason, a small percentage of the H₂ produced today is green H₂.

Nu:ionic Technologies entered into a Memorandum of Understanding commercial agreement with Liberty Utilities for the development of a 2.4 tpd (2,400 kg/d) H₂ production system, utilizing Nu:ionic proprietary Microwave Catalytic Reformers.

Ampol has entered into a partnership with H₂ equipment manufacturer and supplier OneH2 to represent the U.S.-based company in the Australian H₂ market.

Shanghai H₂ Propulsion Technology (SHPT) and Sydrogen Energy signed a strategic cooperation agreement at the premises of SHPT. Sydrogen will act as a strategic partner to supply components to support SHPT in delivering high-quality fuel cell performance stacks product.

CSIRO and RFC Ambrian co-founded Hadean Energy, a new company to commercialize cutting-edge technology that can produce H₂ with 30% less electricity and help to decarbonize heavy industry.

RENK Group is supplying three high-speed special gear units via RENK-Maag GmbH for compressors to produce green steel to Siemens Energy Compressors GmbH as part of the Salzgitter low CO₂ steelmaking project.

Toppan has installed production equipment for catalyst coated membrane and membrane electrode assemblies at its Kochi Plant in Kochi Prefecture, Japan.

The widescale deployment for H₂ production remains limited due to slow rates of oxygen evolution reaction—an important component of electrolysis—and high loading levels of expensive metal oxide catalysts, such as iridium and ruthenium oxides, in electrodes.