Both the energy market and the global political class have tried in recent years to envisage where the change in the energy model should be directed. Gas, hydrogen, solar, wind… How can we achieve the objectives of climate neutrality in the fastest and most efficient way? The energy transition is a real demand and at the same time a requirement that does not allow for much hesitation. We need to act, and we need to do it immediately.
We all are aware that all renewable energies will be indispensable. Lately, especially hydrogen has emerged as a very logical and feasible tool to achieve the zero-emission goal. But why hydrogen?
Hydrogen: the feasible solution
Hydrogen is virtually everywhere, accounting for an estimated 75% of the mass of the entire universe. Nevertheless, it only occurs in bound form, as a component of larger chemical compounds such as water, acids, hydrocarbons and other organic compounds. Therefore, hydrogen must be produced with an additional energy input and is thus a secondary energy carrier, comparable to electricity or heat; consequently, it does not count as primary energy.
Undoubtedly, its benefits are worth considering. Of all known fuels, hydrogen has an extremely high gravimetric energy density: it is very light but has the highest energy density – 33.3 kilowatt hours per kilogram. One kilogram of hydrogen contains an enormous amount of energy: it is actually enough for driving a passenger car around 80 to 100 kilometres. If we compare it to diesel, for example, it exceeds its energy density by a factor of three; of an electric car battery by up to a factor of a hundred. What is more, compared to battery-electric propulsion, it allows significantly greater ranges and shorter refuelling times.
In addition, hydrogen can be used to produce synthetic fuel for mobility purposes or to generate electricity in fuel cells. It can also be used – instead of oil – to obtain raw materials for the chemical industry. In other words, hydrogen can be used to do virtually everything for which oil, coal and natural gas were previously used – and all this without releasing CO2!
On the other hand, hydrogen can serve as a storage medium for fluctuating renewable energy sources. Unlike batteries, which gradually discharge, hydrogen is also suitable for long-term (pressure) storage without major energy loss.
And another relevant aspect, compared to lithium batteries, fuel cells have the advantage of very good recyclability of around 98 % of used materials. Fuel cells do not contain any rare raw materials such as cobalt and do not have such high-quality requirements in production as battery cells.
Are there still doubts about why hydrogen will be the key?
Wolftank Group: more than 20 years of hydrogen expertise
Wolftank Group’s current hydrogen know-how comes from more than twenty years of experience in the sector, which has allowed us to develop a hydrogen portfolio covering areas such as hydrogen transport, its transformation into electricity or its distribution – either through mobile technologies or via complete refuelling stations.
Constant improvements, new developments and creative teams: the focus on R&I enables Wolftank to establish itself as a frontrunner in hydrogen. It seems that this energy carrier will be the game changer; our company works every day to make this transition easier.
About Wolftank Group
Wolftank Group is a leading technology partner for energy and environmental solutions operating worldwide. In the field of energy mobility and logistics, the Group supports customers in more than 20 countries to implement projects in an efficient and environmentally friendly way. For this, it develops and implements tomorrow’s technologies to decarbonize transport and build the infrastructure for zero-emission mobility – such as turnkey delivery of modular hydrogen and LNG refueling facilities. In the area of environmental solutions, the offering includes due diligences for environmental risks, customized services for soil and groundwater remediation, as well as recycling. The group’s subsidiaries in eight countries on three continents are managed by Wolftank-Adisa Holding AG, based in Innsbruck, Austria. The share of Wolftank-Adisa Holding AG (WKN: A2PBHR; ISIN: AT0000A25NJ6) is listed in the direct market plus segment of the Vienna Stock Exchange AG and in the m:access of the Munich Stock Exchange and is traded on Xetra, the Frankfurt and Berlin Stock Exchanges. Further information: www.wolftankgroup.com
Disclaimer:
This communication contains forward-looking statements based on current knowledge, expectations, and projections of Wolftank-Adisa Holding AG’s management about the future. All statements are subject to potentially uncertain assumptions and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements can be identified using words such as “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “target”, “estimate”, “assume” or similar. Consequently, statements relating to the future are only valid at the time they are made. The Company does not assume any obligation to adjust, correct or monitor statements made in this communication in the future.