What's also important... TICKER (week 09)

Germany: DWV recommendations for the 21st legislative period + + + Germany: Mercedes-Benz brokers fuel cell trucks from the Paul Group + + + USA: Air Products stops two hydrogen projects + + + Great Britain: Novelis uses hydrogen for aluminum recycling furnace + + + Great Britain: ITM Power supplies electrolyzers with 20 megawatts of power to FDE + + + Great Britain: Mahle tests hydrogen engines for trucks + + + Netherlands: Total Energies orders 45.000 tons of green hydrogen from Air Liquide + + + Germany: BAM investigates DRI with hydrogen + + + Germany: Practical check to simplify the installation of electrolyzers + + + USA: Nikola files for bankruptcy for gas station brand Hyla + + + Japan: Hydrexia and Yamato H2Energy want to develop market for H2 filling stations and storage + + + Germany: Guide to building a regional hydrogen economy + + + Great Britain: University of Nottingham gets laboratory for hydrogen propulsion + + + Germany: H2 filling station opens in Bremerhaven + + + Rollback USA: Dismantling of e-charging stations

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

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(Germany) The German Hydrogen Association (DWV) is issuing recommendations to the new German government on how to accelerate the hydrogen rollout in Germany and Europe . Key demands include the rapid scaling of hydrogen production by simplifying electricity procurement and grid connection, as well as reducing permitting hurdles, in order to lower costs and expand the hydrogen supply. "Strong offtake markets and incentives" should enable industry, the mobility sector, and the energy industry to use hydrogen. Furthermore, hydrogen should be integrated across sectors within the energy system. Renewable energy sources must be usable and storable, instead of curtailing generation plants during periods of high electricity production. The core network for nationwide supply to commerce and industry must be rapidly implemented, filled, and further expanded. In addition, investors need financial incentives and simplified funding programs with access to liquidity and debt financing. The document is available free of charge as a PDF (24 pages).

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(Germany) Special vehicle outfitter Paul Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH has reached an agreement whereby Mercedes-Benz will also connect potential buyers for Paul's "PH2P" hydrogen truck at 15 "Own Retail" locations in Germany. According to the company, the 16-ton truck has a range of approximately 450 kilometers and a gross combination weight of up to 24 tons. The chassis is based on a Mercedes-Benz "Atego 4×2 / 6×2 Glider." The hydrogen tank, with a capacity of around 30 kilograms, can be filled in ten to fifteen minutes. Vehicles of this type have been in operation with customers since the beginning of 2024, both in long-distance and short-distance transport ("last-mile logistics").

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( USA) Industrial gas manufacturer Air Products and Chemicals Inc. is withdrawing from three decarbonization projects. The company has reportedly terminated its contract with World Energy LLC for the expansion project for sustainable aviation fuel in Paramount, California, and is withdrawing "entirely from this site." The reason given is unspecified "difficult commercial aspects related to the expansion project and ongoing operations." Air Products has also canceled plans to build a 35-ton-per-day green liquid hydrogen production facility in Massena, New York, along with the associated distribution opportunities. This decision is based on "recent regulatory developments that render the existing hydropower supply ineligible for the Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit," as well as "the slower-than-expected development of a hydrogen mobility market in the region." The company is also withdrawing from a carbon monoxide production project in Texas due to "unfavorable economic conditions." Air Products expects a pre-tax charge of up to $3,1 billion in Q2 2025, primarily for asset amortization and the termination of contractual obligations. In contrast, the Neom green hydrogen project in Saudi Arabia is approaching 80 percent completion, with green ammonia production expected to begin there by the end of 2026.

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(Great Britain) US aluminum products manufacturer Novelis Inc. has tested the large-scale use of hydrogen as fuel for a recycling furnace at its UK plant in Latchford, Warrington. The pilot project involved several test runs with varying hydrogen blends from 30 percent to 100 percent to assess the impact on existing infrastructure and plant compatibility. During the trials, several hundred tons of aluminum scrap were melted and cast into ingots. The tests, conducted under the UK government's Industrial Fuel Switching Competition program, required the installation of new burners, regenerators, and furnace linings. Using hydrogen instead of the same amount of natural gas to operate a melting furnace could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90 percent. Novelis plans to publish a full report later this year. In July 2024, the company announced its intention to invest approximately $90 million to double its recycling capacity for used beverage cans in Latchford by 85 kilotons per year. The system is scheduled to be commissioned in December 2026.

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(Great Britain) The British company ITM Power plc has received an order from the energy producer La Française de l'Energie SA (FDE) to supply four "Neptune V" electrolyzers. The five-megawatt containerized plants for green hydrogen production will be used in the first phase of the Norwegian "Hydrogen Hub Agder" project, owned by FDE subsidiary Greenstat. The plant, with a combined capacity of 20 megawatts, is intended to supply the maritime industry and is scheduled to go online at the end of 2026. The second phase, expected to be completed by 2027, will include an additional 40-megawatt plant.

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(Great Britain) Mahle Powertrain Ltd. is commencing testing and calibration work on hydrogen engines for heavy-duty vehicles in Northampton as part of the "Cavendish" project. The program, funded by the UK government with £9,8 million, is being carried out by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC). Its aim is to rapidly develop marketable solutions for decarbonizing the transport sector. "Hydrogen combustion engines are particularly well-suited for long-haul heavy-duty applications that are difficult to electrify," says Jonathan Hall, Head of Research and Advanced Engineering at Mahle Powertrain, a subsidiary of Stuttgart-based Mahle GmbH. "Using this technology allows the industry to leverage the benefits of years of development and investment." The test facilities in Northampton are designed for this type of work and feature "their own hydrogen supply, specially developed monitoring and safety systems, and high-torque test benches."

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(Netherlands) Energy company Total Energies SA plans to decarbonize its refineries in Northern Europe using green hydrogen and has signed agreements with US industrial gas manufacturer Air Liquide and Chemicals Inc. for the development of two projects in the Netherlands. These projects will produce and supply approximately 45.000 tons of green hydrogen per year. The electricity will be generated primarily from the Oranje Wind offshore wind farm, developed by Total Energies and RWE. A joint venture, with each company holding a 50% stake, will construct a 250-megawatt electrolyzer near the Zeeland refinery, expected to produce 30.000 tons of green hydrogen annually. The electrolyzer is scheduled to begin operation in 2029. The investment amounts to approximately €600 million. In addition, Total Energies has also signed a hydrogen purchase agreement with Air Liquide in Maasvlakte, Netherlands, as part of the "ELYgator" project. The plant there has a capacity of 200 megawatts, of which Total Energies has secured 130 megawatts, equivalent to 15.000 tons of green hydrogen per year, destined for the refinery in Antwerp. The project is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of 2027. To fully decarbonize the grey hydrogen used in its European refineries, Total Energies has already contracted for more than 170.000 tons of green hydrogen per year: for La Mède, Grandpuits, and Normandie in France, Leuna in Germany, and its refineries in Belgium and the Netherlands.

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(Germany) The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) is collaborating with 20 consortium partners from industry and academia in the EU-funded "Zerosteel" project to make steel production more sustainable through the use of hydrogen and renewable energies. According to BAM, they are conducting laboratory experiments on hydrogen-based direct reduction (DRI) of iron ore to investigate how the process can be further optimized. A pilot plant is being used to test whether this process also works on an industrial scale. The smelting reduction of iron ore using hydrogen plasma is also being investigated as an alternative method. Climate-neutral carbon carriers such as biochar are also being examined to further reduce CO2 emissions in steel production. Participants in Zerosteel include the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, the Finnish University of Oulu, the Belgian University of Kuleuven, the Centre National de Recherche Scientifique in France, the Vienna University of Technology, and the Austrian research and industry consortium K1-Met.

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(Germany) The approval process for electrolyzers is to be simplified. To achieve this goal, authorities and companies met in Düsseldorf for a "practical check." This is a new approach to reviewing processes and optimizing procedures, according to a joint statement from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and the Ministry for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. Experts from industry and government jointly examined processes "from start to finish, identified bureaucratic obstacles, tested their enforceability, and developed solutions." The Federal Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport of North Rhine-Westphalia are also involved. Participating companies include those planning and, in some cases, already implementing the construction of electrolyzers, as well as experts from the permitting authorities and the State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection (LANUV). The proposals will be documented in a results paper. These findings can inform the potential further development of the legal framework, the design of enforcement procedures, and the preparation of the processes. Further discussions between the participating ministries have already been agreed upon. The BMWK has already conducted such practical checks on the topics of photovoltaics and onshore wind energy and has taken the results into account in draft legislation.

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(USA) Hydrogen and electric truck manufacturer Nikola Corporation has filed for bankruptcy protection for its hydrogen refueling station brand "Hyla" and several subsidiaries at the United States Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. The proceedings are expected to take place under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code. Nikola has also filed for approval of an auction and sale process. Subject to approval, the company intends to fulfill certain directly provided service and support obligations for currently deployed vehicles, including certain Hyla refueling operations, through the end of March 2025. The company is entering the proceedings with approximately $47 million in cash to fund the aforementioned activities, complete the post-bankruptcy sale process, and conclude the Chapter 11 proceedings with a new business plan. "Over the past few months, we have taken numerous steps to raise capital, reduce our liabilities, clean up our balance sheet, and preserve cash to sustain our operations," said Steve Girsky, President and CEO of Nikola. However, these efforts have not been sufficient. Nikola still considers itself the "world's leading provider of zero-emission transportation, power, and infrastructure solutions."

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(Japan) The Chinese company Hydrexia Holding Ltd., through its subsidiary Hydrexia Singapore Pte Ltd., has signed a letter of intent with the Japanese project developer Yamato H2Energy Japan. According to the agreement, they intend to jointly develop hydrogen storage and transport solutions, as well as refueling station equipment, for the Japanese market. Hydrexia will provide its refueling station technologies, while Yamato H2E will act as a system integrator and distribution partner. They also plan to adapt the technical design of the products, "certain parts of Hydrexia's technologies," and heating systems to the market. In recent months, the company has significantly expanded its business activities in Southeast Asia, Japan, India, Europe, the USA, and Australia, and has entered into numerous partnerships.

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(Germany) A new guide from the federally owned Now GmbH aims to support municipalities, companies, and regions in developing a regional hydrogen economy. The document is based on findings from 28 HyExpert studies conducted as part of the "HyLand – Hydrogen Regions in Germany" competition. Its content includes potential analyses for assessing hydrogen production and supply, the development of guidelines for infrastructure and usage planning, and funding opportunities. It also provides an overview of permitting procedures and legal frameworks. Since 2019, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs (BMDV) has been promoting the development of regional hydrogen value chains through the HyLand program within the National Innovation Programme for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP). The guide, "HyExperts – Successfully Conceptualizing Regional Hydrogen Projects," is available free of charge as a PDF (89 pages).

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(UK) The University of Nottingham has received approval to build a hydrogen propulsion laboratory. This will enable research and safe, high-performance testing of propulsion systems for the transport industry. Funded by the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF) from Research England and industry partners, the laboratory will feature cryogenic testing facilities and environmental chambers suitable for altitude testing, allowing the testing of gaseous hydrogen, ammonia, and other environmentally friendly fuels for aerospace, automotive, marine, and power generation. The laboratory is expected to be operational by mid-2026.

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(Germany) In Bremerhaven, HY.City.Bremerhaven GmbH & Co. KG, in the presence of Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, opened a hydrogen filling station in front of the depot of Bremerhaven Versorgungs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft GmbH (BremerhavenBus). Trial operations have been underway since December of last year. It will be open to the public in March. The hydrogen is supplied by a two-megawatt electrolysis plant. According to reports, the planning and construction of the entire project took almost five years. GP Joule Hydrogen, part of JP Joule GmbH in Reußenkögge, is the general contractor and is also responsible for the control and monitoring of the facilities. The founders and main shareholders of HY.City.Bremerhaven are GP Joule and the Bremerhaven-based start-up Green Fuels. Other shareholders include BremerhavenBus, Energiequelle, Dürhus Solar, the Georg Grube Group, the Seier Group, and the Diersch & Schröder Group.

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(Rollback USA) The Trump administration plans to shut down all electric vehicle charging stations at the Denver Federal Center (DFC). This was reported by the website "The Verge," citing Colorado Public Radio (CPR). According to the report, the US General Services Administration (GSA) stated that the government-owned charging stations are "not critical" to the DFC's operations. Employees in four federal buildings have been notified of the shutdown. The federal agency is responsible for, among other things, government real estate and technical services. The DFC reportedly has 22 fully functional charging stations at eleven locations on campus. Some will be taken offline soon, and others will be deactivated once the contracts are terminated. "Neither government-owned nor privately owned vehicles will be able to charge at these charging stations once they are out of service," an email from the GSA is quoted as saying. The agency ordered over 58.000 electric vehicles under the Biden administration and began installing more than 25.000 charging points. The German government owns approximately 650.000 vehicles, more than half of which were supposed to be replaced by electric cars.

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Photos
iStock / © Danil Melekhin