Saxony: Cabinet approves hydrogen strategy + + + USA: Proterra supplies batteries to Nicola + + + Lower Saxony: The federal government should increase co-financing for hydrogen projects + + + Canada: Enbridge Gas commissions H2/natural gas blending + + + Korea: Hyundai wants to bring hydrogen tankers onto the market from 2025 + + + Studies
A selection of PtX topics summarized at the end of the week
+ + + + +
Saxony's cabinet has approved the Saxon hydrogen strategy. This will implement the goal of the Saxon coalition agreement to build a hydrogen economy with Saxon value chains that are as closed as possible. The Strategy show what additional measures would be needed in Saxony beyond those offered by the EU and the federal government. A catalog of measures with 24 projects supports local actors so that the conditions can be created for using green hydrogen as an energy source by 2030. Further focuses would be on the industrial production of electrolysis and fuel cell systems, the construction of Power-to-X systems and the development and upgrading of the necessary infrastructure beyond national borders. A Saxon hydrogen competence center (KH2) is to be set up as a central institution, which will coordinate all hydrogen projects and the network with Saxony's neighboring countries and states.
+ + + + +
The US manufacturer of electric commercial vehicles Proterra Inc. will become the US truck manufacturer Nikola Corp. provide battery technology for zero-emission semi-trailers. The information According to both companies, they have signed a long-term contract. Proterra's products would likely be used in Nikola's Tre battery electric vehicle (BEV) and fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). The first semi-trailers are scheduled to be produced in the fourth quarter of 2022, and Proterra will deliver battery prototypes from the second quarter of 2022.
+ + + + +
The federal government should change the rules for co-financing hydrogen projects, Lower Saxony's Economics Minister Bernd Althusmann (CDU) demands in the Hanover political journal "Panoramic view". So far, the states have had to raise 30 percent of the investments as their own funds, and the federal government has to cover 70 percent. In view of the planned hydrogen pipelines, Lower Saxony cannot be expected to spend large amounts of money on the transport infrastructure, from which many other federal states will ultimately benefit. The project has “a national dimension,” said Althusmann.
+ + + + +
Enbridge Gas commissions H2/natural gas blending plant. This one costs 5,2 million US dollars (4,6 million euros). Pilot project includes the expansion of Canada's largest gas utility's existing power-to-gas facility in Markham, Toronto, built in 2018 as part of a joint venture with U.S. diesel and gas engine manufacturer Cummins Inc., to balance electricity supply and demand in Ontario. Excess electricity in the province is converted into hydrogen and stored until it is needed and converted back into electricity. The hydrogen will now also be fed into part of Enbridge Gas Inc.'s existing natural gas network, which connects around 3.600 customers in Markham.
+ + + + +
Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co Ltd. (KSOE) wants to develop market-ready hydrogen tankers by 2025. According to the information, the biggest challenge is to cool the hydrogen to minus 253 degrees Celsius - just 20 degrees above absolute zero - so that it retains its liquid state. A concept ship with a capacity of 20.000 cubic meters has already been developed. From 2030 onwards, 20 ships of this type are to be built. If demand increases, the number can be increased to 2040 ships with a capacity of 200 cubic meters after 170.000. For comparison: the largest supertankers for liquefied natural gas can transport 266.000 cubic meters. The first tanker in the 20.000 cubic meter class is scheduled to come onto the market between 2025 and 2027. KSOE is the shipbuilding arm of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group.
+ + + + +
Photos
iStock / © Danil Melekhin
