Interview Opportunities of a hydrogen economy

The chemist Kai Holtappels is spokesman for the H₂Safety@BAM Centre of Competence. He also advises the Government in the Hydrogen Research Network funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action, where over 1,500 members are participating.

Hydrogen is a key element in the transformation to climate neutrality. What makes it so important?

Hydrogen is the energy source with the highest energy density by mass. Its use is therefore particularly attractive as a storage medium in energy supply and as a fuel in transport. Above all, green hydrogen produced using electricity from renewable sources does not cause any greenhouse gas emission, so it is climate-neutral.

What are the challenges from a materials science perspective?

Hydrogen is stored under extremely high pressure. Its molecules are very small and reactive and can diffuse into and through materials. The materials for pipelines, weld seams and storage facilities must therefore withstand extraordinary stresses safely and permanently. To this end, we conduct research in the H₂Safety@BAM Centre of Competence by deliberately exposing metals, plastics and lubricants to hydrogen under operating conditions and testing whether and how the materials change over time.
We are also conducting research into all aspects of a future hydrogen economy. For example, how hydrogen can be safely fed into the existing natural gas grid, how liquid hydrogen can be safely handled in ports or how we can use the possibilities of digitalisation to increase the safety and reliability of hydrogen filling stations.

Are there other activities besides the actual research?

We at BAM are involved in numerous networks and share our knowledge about technical development processes for national and international standardisation and regulation. We are helping to create worldwide uniform safety standards at the level of the United Nations and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). In this way, we help to ensure that the ‘Made in Germany’ brand can also be well positioned on the world market in the hydrogen sector. Overall, as an industrialised country, we have the opportunity to pursue a truly CO₂-neutral energy policy using green hydrogen and thus set an example internationally.

Germany wants to become a leader in hydrogen technologies. Where do we stand?

We are already one of the world’s leading nations, together with the United States and Japan. German industry and science are conducting intensive research into new hydrogen technologies such as innovative materials for pipelines and for electrolysers that can be used to produce green hydrogen. Rigorous work is also being done to optimise existing storage technologies. The last German Federal Government created very good conditions for this with their hydrogen strategy and state subsidies, and the new Government is consistently continuing along this path. BAM supports the strategy of the Federal Government and their H₂Safety Centre of Competence is doing important research work to bring these development processes to market maturity while ensuring their safety and reliability.

What are future tasks?

Germany will need very large quantities of hydrogen in the coming years. Upscaling and an increasing number of installations and systems will raise new questions regarding safety, e.g. for large-scale hydrogen production plants, the production of synthetic fuels and the use of hydrogen in steel production. These issues must be identified and assessed at an early stage and, if necessary, the necessary technological adjustments made. Hydrogen as an energy source will only find acceptance if people trust the technology. This is what BAM stands for.