Tomorrow’s world fuelled by Hydrogen

Hydrogen is rapidly being recognised as a clean energy carrier, that can contribute to three vital tar- gets that policymakers currently favour around the world: GHG emissions reductions, energy secu- rity and reduction of local air pollution. Hydrogen generates electrical power in a fuel cell, emitting only water vapour and warm air. This opens up opportunities for Hydrogen to become usable in sta- tionery and transportation energy sectors.

Before that can happen, a problem still needs to be resolved: how can it be efficiently transported? Hydrogen is highly volatile, making transportation and storage considerably more difficult. In the form of gas, it can be stored in multi-layered pressure tanks, underground caverns, or liquid form, however, both variants are technically complex and energy intensive.

There is hope as LOHC, which stands for liquid organic hydrogen carrier, is another process of stor- ing and transporting Hydrogen. In this process, Hydrogen is chemically linked to a viscous carrier in a hydrating reaction.

As a result, the utilisation of Hydrogen becomes more straightforward, safer and available at a lower cost. This is due to the fact that, the current crude oil-based energy system can be adapted, without significant modifications to the new energy.

A key technology that still needs to be improved as an enabler for filling the tank with LOHC and using it like a conventional liquid fuel, is a hydrogen fuel cell that can operate directly with LOHC. Schaeffler is currently developing just this, together with Hydrogenous LOHC Technologies GmbH and HI ERN. The automotive and industrial suppliers’ part in the project is the production of suita- ble bipolar plates, in which the company uses synergies and draws on know-how and experience from previously developed fuel cell technology.

Find out more about Schaeffler’s innovative contributions to fuelling the world of tomorrow here.