August 27, 2024 [Energy Connects]- In a significant move towards bolstering Europe’s hydrogen economy, Dr Robert Habeck, German Federal Minister of Economics, and Dr Markus Wittmann, Ministerial Director of the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, have officially handed over a grant notification of €72.5 million (US $ 78.94 million) to Hydrogenious LOHC Infra Bavaria in support of the Green Hydrogen Blue Danube project.
The funding, comprising 70% from the federal government and 30% from the state of Bavaria, underscores the strategic importance of the project.
Recognised by the European Commission in February 2024 as an “Important Project of Common European Interest” (IPCEI) under the hydrogen “Hy2Infra” wave, it aims to ensure a sustainable and stable hydrogen supply for industry across Central Europe.
Dr Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action in Germany, said in a press statement, “The energy transition remains one of the biggest challenges for our country, even in the face of further crises and conflicts. By promoting hydrogen projects, we are taking an important step towards a climate-neutral and sustainable economy in Europe and beyond. An efficient hydrogen infrastructure plays a key role in enabling the decarbonisation of industry and the energy sector. Hydrogen pipelines will be the lifelines of industrial centres. This will create the conditions for climate-neutral growth.”
Set to commence operations in 2028, the LOHC ReleasePLANT developed as part of the Green Hydrogen @ Blue Danube project will deliver up to 1,800 tonnes of green hydrogen annually to industrial off takers in the Bavarian Danube region.
The innovative “Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier” (LOHC) technology by Hydrogenious facilitates the transportation of these significant quantities of green hydrogen using existing liquid fuel infrastructure.
Hydrogenious’ LOHC technology employs the chemical process of hydrogenation to safely bond hydrogen to the hardly flammable thermal oil benzyltoluene. This bonded oil can be transported via conventional means such as trucks, trains, barges, and tankers, ensuring a safe and efficient method to deliver hydrogen without any loss.
Upon reaching its destination, the hydrogen is released through dehydrogenation, resulting in high-purity hydrogen ready for industrial applications, power generation, or the mobility sector. Remarkably, the carrier oil is reusable, making the process highly sustainable.
In addition to local supply, the hydrogen can be injected into pipeline networks like HyPipe Bavaria. This network is set for expansion through planned connections to the German Hydrogen Core Network and the European Hydrogen Backbone, thus enhancing the resilience of the energy system.
Dr Daniel Teichmann, CEO and Founder of Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies, added, “By building up the world’s largest LOHC-based hydrogen supply infrastructure, we contribute to the achievement of Germany’s ambitious goals to accelerate the energy transition and decarbonise industry by 2030.”
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