Forecast: Only half of all newly announced coal-fired power plants will be built +++ Austria: First electrolyzer for green hydrogen put into operation +++ Essen: Thyssenkrupp and IRENA agree on hydrogen cooperation +++ USA: Paccard and Toyota develop hydrogen trucks +++ Oldenburg: EWE supplies green hydrogen to Salzgitter AG +++ Cologne: Toyota uses VDL fuel cell trucks for freight transport +++ Events +++ DISCOUNT promotion : Your advertisement on the PtX portal
A selection of PtX topics summarized at the end of the week
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Only half of all new coal-fired power plants announced worldwide will be built (symbolic image: Scholven/Gelsenkirchen power plant from Uniper SE). © Uniper SE
In the middle of last year, the total capacity of new coal-fired power plants under construction or planned worldwide reached 476 gigawatts. If all were completed and operated until the end of their economic lifespan, "the international goal of limiting global warming to below two degrees Celsius and ideally to 1,5 degrees would be unattainable," explained the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC). However, the Berlin-based research institute believes that around half of this capacity would be canceled over time. Plans and even ongoing construction projects could be put on hold "if, for example, the financing environment, national energy strategies, or the costs of renewable energies" change, says Jan Steckel, co-author of the study. Since 2021, countries in the Global South have been negotiating with wealthy industrialized nations within the framework of "Just Energy Transition Partnerships" for assistance in phasing out this particularly climate-damaging form of electricity generation. Initial deals worth billions have already been signed for South Africa, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Most projects would be halted in Bangladesh and Mongolia, and the fewest in China. Overall, the experts anticipate that around 215 gigawatts of new coal-fired power plant capacity will be installed in the ten countries they studied over the next few years. The study was published in the journal " Environmental Research Letters ".
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Started the first external plant in Austria for the production of green hydrogen in Gabersdorf for Energie Steiermark AG (from left to right): Christian Purrer (Board Spokesman Energie Steiermark), Andreas Bock (Technical Director Wolfram Mützen und Hütten AG), State Governor Christopher Drexler, Deputy State Governor Anton Lang, Martin Graf (Board Director Energy Styria). © Energie Steiermark
The first off-site production plant for green hydrogen in Austria has opened in the municipality of Gabersdorf in the Styria region. The project, undertaken by the energy supplier Energie Steiermark AG, represents an investment of €10,5 million and is situated on a 10.000-square-meter site. The plant comprises a photovoltaic power plant (the installed capacity of which was not disclosed), an electrolyzer (also with an unspecified capacity), a trailer filling station, and a methanization unit. At full capacity, the plant could produce up to 300 tons of green hydrogen annually. The first major customer, for 70 tons per year, is Wolfram Bergbau und Hütten AG, a subsidiary of the Swedish tool and machinery manufacturer Sandvik Group. "Based on the experience gained from the Gabersdorf pilot project, we are planning the systematic expansion of hydrogen production in cooperation with industry," said Christian Purrer and Martin Graf, board members of Energie Steiermark. Initially, a capacity of 150 megawatts is planned. Furthermore, the existing natural gas network infrastructure will be upgraded to accommodate green gases.
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The agreement between IRENA and Thyssenkrupp was signed by IRENA General Director Francesco La Camera and Thyssenkrupp Managing Director Martina Merz. © Thyssenkrupp AG
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Essen-based Thyssenkrupp AG have agreed to a collaboration. The two companies intend to share their "knowledge in the mass production, supply, and transport of green hydrogen and other green energy carriers" along the entire value chain "with regard to demand, supply, and infrastructure." The agreement will "significantly advance the exchange of knowledge and enable technical solutions that accelerate the production, supply, and use of green hydrogen," says Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA. "Such partnerships are essential to making the green transformation a success," says Thyssenkrupp CEO Martina Merz. However, she adds that it is more of a "disruption than just a transformation." This task can only be accomplished within the framework of a global alliance. The collaboration includes identifying applications for green hydrogen across various industries, determining potential hydrogen demand at the national level, and developing a business scenario for green hydrogen "as a significant contribution to comprehensive decarbonization."
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The Paccar brands Kenworth (left) and Peterbilt are to be further developed with hydrogen models. © Paccar Inc.
US truck manufacturer Paccar Inc. and Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (Toyota) will jointly advance the production of Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks powered by hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). The agreement supports the ongoing development and marketing of zero-emission versions of the Kenworth T680 and Peterbilt 579 models, equipped with Toyota's hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. The Japanese automaker will begin assembling the modules in the United States by the end of 2023, with initial customer deliveries planned for 2024. Paccar and Toyota have already collaborated on the development of FCEV trucks in recent years, including a pilot program in which ten Kenworth T680 FCEV trucks were deployed at the Port of Los Angeles.
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Gunnar Groebler (Salzgitter AG, right) and Stefan Dohler (EWE) sign a cooperation agreement to supply hydrogen. © Salzgitter AG
The Oldenburg-based energy provider EWE will supply Salzgitter AG with green hydrogen. The company plans to use the energy carrier for virtually CO2-free steel production. "We are focusing, among other things, on large-scale green hydrogen production," says EWE CEO Stefan Dohler. "With our well-developed infrastructure – particularly in the areas of cavern storage and pipeline transport of hydrogen – we provide the foundation for reliably supplying a major consumer like Salzgitter AG with green hydrogen." EWE intends to build up to 400 megawatts of electrolysis capacity in several sub-projects near the German North Sea coast as part of the IPCEI project "Clean Hydrogen Coastline." "Depending on the sales market, we can thus produce up to 40.000 tons of green hydrogen annually." As previously reported, Salzgitter AG, as part of its "Salzgitter Low CO2 Steelmaking" (Salcos) project, plans to replace coke with hydrogen in steel production by 2033 and transition to low-CO2 steel production in three stages.
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Model of a fuel cell truck that will drive for Toyota in the future. © Toyota Motors Europe
The Dutch VDL Group will put its first hydrogen-powered fuel cell truck on the road in summer 2023, followed by further vehicles starting in autumn. According to the company, these will be deployed on various logistics routes for Toyota Motor Europe (TME). The experience and insights gained are intended to help "demonstrate the everyday suitability of fuel cell trucks and consolidate their use." Unlike the batteries of fully electric vehicles, hydrogen systems in fuel cell trucks "have a comparatively low mass, which allows them to continue offering a high payload," says Toyota. At the same time, the vehicles can be "refueled with hydrogen almost as quickly as with diesel."
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Photos
iStock / © Danil Melekhin
