Hydrogen Technology
Hydrogen is considered one of the energy sources of the future. To produce hydrogen, water is split into oxygen and hydrogen using electrolysis. If this is done using renewable energies (“green hydrogen”), it is completely climate-neutral and plays a central role in the decarbonization of industry, mobility, and energy supply.
Powered by hydrogen – a technology with great potential
Hydrogen fuel cells are a mature, emission-free technology that has already proven itself in numerous mobility and energy applications and offers numerous advantages across a wide range of industries:
For the energy-intensive economy:
Hydrogen fuel cells enable the efficient storage and transport of energy – ideal for integrating renewable energies into the electricity system. They balance out fluctuations in production and consumption, promote sector coupling between the electricity and gas grids, and ensure greater grid stability. During periods of low demand and high electricity generation from renewable energies, large energy storage capacities must be developed. These disparities can be balanced by chemically storing energy using hydrogen as an energy carrier. Hydrogen can be stored economically for days or weeks and used flexibly—an advantage for industry and consumers alike.
Furthermore, the use of H2 in the supply infrastructure can enable decarbonization in the provision of space and process heat.
For climate-neutral transformation in the mobility sector:
The storability of hydrogen and on-board energy generation enable higher performance, fast refueling times, and thus greater usable ranges in the traffic and transport sector. In this respect, fuel cells play a particularly important role in power-intensive applications that must be available at all times. In addition to heavy-duty applications on the road, this also includes passenger cars, especially those that are power-intensive, such as SUVs, or those used for long distances, such as long-distance limousines.
For climate protection:
Fuel cell technology does not produce any greenhouse gas or pollutant emissions, can achieve higher energy efficiency than conventional combustion engines, and requires only a small amount of critical raw materials for production. For this reason, hydrogen fuel cells are a perfect complement to batteries for emission-free mobility and stationary power generation, and are making an essential contribution to the transformation of industry.
How does a hydrogen drive work?
A hydrogen drive uses hydrogen as an energy source to power vehicles in an environmentally friendly way. At the heart of this drive is usually a fuel cell stack, which converts hydrogen into electrical energy.
In the fuel cell, hydrogen reacts with oxygen from the ambient air. This produces an electrochemical reaction that generates electricity, water (in the form of water vapor), and heat. The electricity produced is then used to power an electric motor that sets the vehicle in motion.
Unlike conventional combustion engines, hydrogen propulsion produces no harmful emissions—only water vapor is emitted. This makes it a particularly environmentally friendly alternative in the field of mobility.
In addition, excess energy can be temporarily stored in a battery to provide additional power when needed, for example when accelerating. This combination of fuel cell and battery is also known as a hybrid system.
