In brief… TICKER (Week 13)

USA: US Army supports Heven Aero Tech in the development of hydrogen-powered drones + + + Germany: Three million euros for hydrogen project PACT-H2 + + + Finland: First hydrogen filling station in Jyväskylä gets electrolyzer + + + Germany: Development banks inadequately regulate the risks of green hydrogen projects (study) + + + Austria: 100 million euros in funding for hydrogen production in Hallein + + + USA: Endeavour aims to supply electricity for data centers based on methane cracking + + + Germany: Supercritical and Valterra Platinum explore potential for hydrogen production in Berlin + + + Estonia: Planning for the Nordic-Baltic hydrogen corridor begins + + + Germany: Only mediocre in GreenTech + + + Netherlands: First hydrogen plant connected to the Dutch grid + + + Germany: Over-subsidizing new power plants in the south brings no added economic value (study) + + + Germany: Eisenach and Weimar will receive electric buses with range extenders

A selection of PtX topics summarized at the end of the week

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(USA) Heven AeroTech has signed a “Basic Ordering Agreement” (BOA) for hydrogen-powered uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) with the US Army Contracting Command (Redstone Arsenal). This is considered the basis for potential orders for the "Z1" drone and its hydrogen production facilities. Hydrogen-powered systems offer greater range and logistical independence compared to conventional propulsion systems and batteries, says Michael Buscher, Heven AeroTech President of US Operations. The agreement puts them in a good position for further negotiations.

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(Germany) The cross-border hydrogen project PACT-H2 receives a funding commitment from the European Union. The project is coordinated by the Saarland Hydrogen Agency H2Saar and implemented jointly with partners from Germany, France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. A total of approximately three million euros is available for the three-year project, of which around 1,7 million euros are funded by the EU. The Saarland Ministry of Economic Affairs is contributing a further 500.000 euros. The remaining funds are being provided by the project partners themselves. The aim is to better coordinate the development of a hydrogen economy in the Greater Region and to involve the public more actively. This will be achieved through initiatives such as public dialogues, joint platforms, and informational services.

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(Finland) The Japanese corporation Asahi Kasei KK has installed an "Aqualyzer-C3" electrolyzer at Finland's first commercial hydrogen refueling station in Jyväskylä began. The system has a capacity of one megawatt. The client is the Central Finland Mobility Foundation (Cefmof). The electrolyzer will be operated by its subsidiary, Cefmof Hydrogen Ltd. Starting in the summer of 2026, the system is initially scheduled to produce 400 kilograms of hydrogen per day; enough to refuel three fuel cell vehicles per hour. This is a significant milestone, "as there are currently only a limited number of hydrogen production plants in operation in Finland," says Lauri Perämäki, Deputy Board Member of Cefmof Hydrogen. The company is "among the first operators in Finland to deploy a containerized alkaline electrolysis system of this size." Previously, since the summer of 2025, the hydrogen producer P2X Solutions Oy had been supplying the refueling station by trailer.

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(Germany) For the supply of green hydrogen, industrialized countries are largely dependent on imports from countries of the global South. Because private investors often consider hydrogen projects too risky, most projects are financed by multilateral development banks. However, their approach to environmental and social management is "often inadequate." Although the banks operate with sustainability guidelines, they pay too little attention to "risks such as water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and the displacement of local communities." Whether the sector can deliver on its promises regarding climate and development is questionable. These are the findings of an analysis by the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS). "Green hydrogen could help developing countries increase export revenues and reduce energy poverty—but only if it is produced fairly," says study author Lai Yee Choy. "This means, for example, that banks must ensure that the projects promote job creation and capacity building on the ground." Choy examined seven green hydrogen projects in developing countries that operate under established environmental and social policy frameworks and have comprehensive, publicly available documentation. The projects are financed by five multilateral development banks: the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Inter-American Development Bank. “The current sustainability guidelines, originally developed for conventional energy projects, lack hydrogen-specific criteria necessary for addressing technology-specific risks related to water, supply chain, emissions, and land use.” This leads to a “critical gap in the guidelines.” The study “Evaluating Multilateral Development Banks' Environmental and Social Policies for Green Hydrogen Projects: A Content Analysis” is published in the Journal of Environment & Development.

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(Austria) The energy supplier Verbund AG and AustroCel Hallein GmbH are launching a major project in Hallein (state of Salzburg) to produce green hydrogen. This will be further processed with biogenic CO2 to produce climate-neutral e-methanol. The electrolysis plant has a capacity of 20 megawatts and, according to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism (BMWET), which is funding the project with 100 million euros, will increase domestic hydrogen production "by about 60 percent at a stroke" by 2030 at the latest. Annual yield is estimated at 2.600 tons of hydrogen.

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(USA) Endeavour Energy LLC aims to establish a power supply for data centers with gigawatt-scale generation capacities using a technology called "Pact" that utilizes hydrogen. The system, based on natural gas and biomethane, is more cost-effective and therefore competitive compared to conventional fossil fuels. It can be quickly implemented in AI campuses and heavy industry, says Endeavour CEO Jakob Carnemark. Methane is circulated in a closed loop through a low-temperature catalytic reactor, which separates the hydrogen component and immediately converts the remaining gaseous carbon into solid graphite. This results in a lower carbon footprint than electrolysis-based green hydrogen. The "Pact" design can be coupled on-site with power generators for just-in-time production and supports systems from five to 1.000 megawatts. Storage and transportation problems associated with traditional hydrogen systems are eliminated.

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(Germany) Supercritical Solutions Ltd and platinum metal processor Valterra Platinum are launching a project to decarbonize Berlin's transport sector. A study will first examine how Supercritical's membrane-free electrolysis technology can be used to provide hydrogen on-site for refueling fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). The project aims to prepare for the further deployment of electrolyzers in Europe and eliminate current bottlenecks in the refueling infrastructure supply chain. "Real-world testing environments are crucial for technological progress," said Luke Tan, Chief Product Officer and co-founder of Supercritical. The London-based company is currently building test and workshop facilities at its demonstration project in Teesside, UK. Supercritical Solutions' membrane-free technology reportedly produces hydrogen at pressures up to 220 bar and with 99 percent purity, and does not use iridium or potentially harmful "perpetual chemicals" (PFAS). The company recently partnered with the spirits company Suntory to develop a new technology for hydrogen production. Whisky production tested using hydrogen.

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(Estonia) The Estonian government is preparing spatial planning for the Estonian part of the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor. Planning and development activities are taking place in parallel in all six participating countries. "Connecting to the Nordic and Central European hydrogen market will strengthen regional security of supply and create investment opportunities for the energy sector and our industry," said Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo. Local companies could establish regional branch connections to the pipeline. Estonia's geographical location offers the possibility of creating a link between Finland and Germany, says Kalle Kilk, CEO of Elering AS, the Estonian transmission system operator for gas and electricity. The plan calls for one or two underground pipelines, each 250 to 300 kilometers long, running from the Latvian border to the coast of northern Estonia, with a capacity of up to 90 terawatt-hours. The planning area encompasses 24 municipalities. All affected landowners will be involved in the route development. The pipeline will be planned, as far as possible, within the corridor of the existing electricity and gas infrastructure. The final route will be determined during the approximately three-year planning process, with completion scheduled for 2040. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications (Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium) is in charge.

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(Germany) The green technology (GreenTech) sector lags behind in international comparison. This is one of the findings of a survey conducted by the Forsa opinion research institute on behalf of the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU). According to the survey, almost two-thirds (60 percent) of respondents rate Germany's progress in fields such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, recycling, and hydrogen as only "average" on a global scale, while almost a quarter (24 percent) even consider it "backward." Only eleven percent of respondents believe Germany is "leading the way." At the same time, 80 percent are convinced that the production and export of environmentally friendly technologies are important pillars for Germany's economic future. The majority (93 percent) find technological innovations "very" or "rather" important for the country's future. Sixty-nine percent believe that stronger government funding for environmental technologies is necessary. Only 16 percent are satisfied with current funding levels. One-tenth believe that the government is providing too much funding. Germans expect more speed from politics, business, and science, says DBU Secretary General Alexander Bonde. The GreenTech sector has increased gross value added in Germany by around five percent every year since 2010 and accounts for more than eight percent of exports. "We mustn't squander this advantage." The results, including graphics, of the survey "Opinions and Perceptions on the Topic of GreenTech" are available on the DUH website published.

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(Netherlands) Gasunie subsidiary Hynetwork has connected the first hydrogen plant to the Dutch hydrogen network. The connection was established between Shell's 200-megawatt "Holland Hydrogen 1" power plant at Rotterdam's Maasvlakte and the hydrogen pipeline. This marks the first time a green hydrogen producer has been directly connected to the national hydrogen infrastructure. The connection follows the completion of the first 32 kilometers of hydrogen pipeline earlier this year, after it was filled with green hydrogen and brought up to the correct pressure.as reportedThe pipeline runs largely parallel to the A15 motorway, within an existing energy corridor that also houses other infrastructure, including the CO2 pipeline for the Porthos project. Over a 19-kilometer section, the hydrogen pipeline and the CO2 pipeline are only 40 centimeters apart.

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(Germany) The federal government plans to build To incentivize gas-fired power plants with a cumulative capacity of 20 gigawatts with subsidies. The "grid-influenced south" of Germany, where fossil fuel power plants often provide short-term grid stability, is expected to particularly benefit from this. However, a study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Infrastructures and Geotechnologies IEG shows that locations in this region already have an economic advantage even without this "southern bonus." Due to the poorly developed grid infrastructure in the south of the country, redispatch measures are frequent – ​​for example, the shutdown of renewable energy plants when their output cannot be fed into the grid due to insufficient capacity. Fossil fuel power plants then have to provide more power outside of their scheduled capacity. This, in turn, is compensated, while elsewhere, electricity feed-in is blocked by the grid operator. "We want to ensure that new capacities are built where they truly strengthen the energy system," says Mario Ragwitz, head of the Fraunhofer IEG. He adds that when issuing tenders, care should be taken to avoid perverse incentives that would otherwise have to be financed by the general public. There is a risk that bonuses would direct investments more strongly to the south, while hindering the expansion of power plants, which is also important in the grid-related north. "Funding mechanisms need to be more carefully coordinated," says project manager Thorsten Spillmann. The study "Analysis of the long-term impact of the proportional compensation for value consumption in the context of a southern bonus for power plants“ is available free of charge as a PDF (17 pages).

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(Germany) Two more electric buses are scheduled to operate in Eisenach (Thuringia) city transport from the end of 2027 / beginning of 2028. These buses are equipped with fuel cells for range extension. The Ministry of Energy has provided one million euros in EU funding for this purpose. A further 8,8 million euros will go to Weimar (Thuringia). This funding will be used to purchase twelve buses, which will also extend their range using fuel cells. Currently, nine hydrogen buses are operating there. These, too, were co-financed with EU funding, along with a hydrogen refueling station. By 2026, around 45 electric and hydrogen buses will be operating in public transport throughout Thuringia. In addition to Eisenach and Weimar, further vehicles are planned to enter service in Gera, Meiningen, Suhl, Leinefeld, and Jena in the coming years. Electric buses are already in operation in the Wartburg district, the Nordhausen district, Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Bad Langensalza, Jena, Gera, and Suhl/Zella-Mehlis.

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Photo above
iStock / © Danil Melekhin