More About Hydrogen

OUR HYDROGEN HEROES

Every hero has an extraordinary story – here is that of Hassen Rachedi, CEO and founder of HRS (Hydrogen Refueling Solutions), who has been working in the hydrogen field for five years.

‍

Léa: Can you tell me which field you were in before becoming involved with hydrogen?

I trained as a boiler maker and started my career doing temp work as a pipe fitter and foreman. After having been trained as account manager, in 2004, I decided to start my own business, at the time called TSM (Tuyauterie Service Maintenance), in the Grenoble area. The company became involved with hydrogen in 2008.

‍

Peter Parker became Spiderman after a bite by a radioactive spider; what bit you with hydrogen?

In 2008, I came across hydrogen when a major French operator asked me to build hydrogen filling stations, mainly composed of pipe work.Over ten years or so, we developed real know-how, to such an extent that in 2019, we changed our strategy to focus on developing turn-key stations incorporating design, installation and maintenance. TSM became Hydrogen Refueling Solutions and in February 2021, to take the venture further, we raised a record €97.3M on the Euronext Growth market to accelerate our development.

‍

Batman has the Joker, Peter Pan, Capitain Hook … what are you fighting against day-to-day?

I am fighting FOR the well-being of my employees.So that they enjoy their day-to-day work and give their best, and that they make the most of life! I have introduced the four-day working week since 5 December 2022!

‍

Is hydrogen the future?

Electric mobility is likely to play an increasing role in the fight against climate change and air pollution, as it generates zero CO2 and particles emissions during use. Both the electric vehicle technologies developed and marketed by car manufacturers are important and must be combined: battery powered vehicles and hydrogen vehicles. I am convinced that hydrogen has a key role to play in energy transition. Green hydrogen will give us energy independence, as we can produce it, store it and use it on demand.Hydrogen makes perfect sense in the heavy transport field (trains, trucks, etc.) and for intensive uses (forklifts, taxis, etc.). In transportation, using hydrogen makes it possible to push the boundaries of battery-powered technologies and achieve better electric vehicle performance in terms of range (500 to 700 kilometres), charging time (5 minutes approximately) and vehicle space. This makes it a complementary solution to batteries for heavy vehicles and commercial fleets, which cover long distances, with intensive use, and need sufficient payload. The two technologies therefore needn’t compete with one another!Ultimately, what is important is to highlight that fuel cell vehicles will give consumers purchasing power with the kilo of hydrogen in 2023 estimated at €4 to €5 per kilo at the pump. Given that a private car carries 6 kilos for a range of 700 km, a full tank will be under €30.

‍

Why is HRS a pioneer in its field?

The business was started in 2008 and initially we were hydrogen station integrators for a major operator.We are a pure player in hydrogen refuelling stations. We are dedicated to developing this product to produce it on a large scale and make hydrogen more accessible.With the arrival on the market of fuel cell vehicles, developing refuelling stations is a real need. Deployment of vehicles and stations needs to be synchronised. With our new production site, which will be delivered this year, still in the Grenoble area, we will triple our production capacity: 180 stations a year will be built, that’s the equivalent of all those installed in Europe in the last ten years!Research and development are also crucial aspects in our company. We have built a 2,000 sq. metre test zone and are involved in several major European projects for the development of our industry.

‍

If you were a super hero, who would you be?

One with a great capacity for endurance! I would say Aquaman!

‍

In conclusion?

I would like to conclude with the word “cooperation”. In my view, this is key to the emergence of our industry. It is the cooperation between the various stakeholders of the hydrogen value chain (producers, manufacturers, equipment providers...) that will help create ecosystems and accelerate the deployment of our fuel chain.

Nolwenn Belleguic - Lhyfe

Every hero has an extraordinary story – here is that of Nolwenn Belleguic, Deputy CEO and Head of HR and Communications at Lhyfe, who has been working in the hydrogen field for four years.

‍

Peter Parker became Spiderman after a bite by a radioactive spider; what bit you with hydrogen?

It was Matthieu Guesné, our CEO, with whom I had the good fortune to found Lhyfe. At the time, I wasn’t really familiar with hydrogen, but, like him, I was ready to fight for the future of my children. His project, his views on energy, his courage and his optimism immediately won me over. Four years later, I am more involved than ever in a real battle to at last make way for a clean and virtuous energy model, using hydrogen in particular.

‍

There is a lot of talk about the technical advances in hydrogen, but what role does communication play in all of this?

Our role is extremely important. Hydrogen is still little or poorly understood while the role it can play in energy transition is substantial. So it is up to us to make this new topic accessible and understandable and do everything possible to enable the renewable hydrogen industry to develop massively and rapidly. Massively, because we absolutely must replace anything that generates CO2 emissions by clean solutions. Rapidly, because given the stakes, we need to act fast. Our work consists in explaining hydrogen and its uses in a simple manner so that everyone can become familiar with the topic, spread the word about it and become an agent of change. The more simple we make it to talk about, the more we will succeed in making it an everyday topic. Our task also consists in informing decision makers and the general public in an energy sector where greenwashing has become a game... Many operators make statements and promises but few REALLY undertake a total transition. At Lhyfe, we don’t just state our intentions; we act.

‍

Batman has the Joker, Peter Pan has Captain Hook … what are you fighting against day-to-day?

I am fighting against inertia, as we can change things as of today. We can revolutionise the energy model right now, thanks to all those that resolve to fight global warming, with those who are getting down to the job. Doing. Doing rather than talking. Not putting off doing things just because things take time – we must act now. It is a battle that we must all fight. Lhyfe is playing a part, as are all the “Heroes”.

‍

Can you give three pieces of advice to those who want to start working with hydrogen?

Follow your intuition, listen to your gut feeling and TAKE THE PLUNGE!

‍

When do you think hydrogen will become the norm?

It is already becoming the norm in some regions abroad. It is already the norm for hundreds of businesses which have understood what a difference hydrogen can make. It will be the norm, once and for all, when it is natural to fill up with hydrogen to go on holiday and drive proudly without polluting.

‍

If you had a super power, what would it be?

With a few drops of magic potion, I would replace all the oil platforms with renewable hydrogen production platforms.

Peter Kuhn - Stellantis

Every hero has an extraordinary story - this is that of Peter Kuhn, a hydrogen business developer at Stellantis, who has been working in hydrogen since 2022.

‍

Can you tell me which field you were in before becoming involved with hydrogen?

I started my career 26 years ago at OPEL as a Transformation Engineer for utility vehicles.To begin with I wasn’t working with hydrogen, but with electric, to organise the commercial launch of electric utility vehicles in Germany. I then moved onto hydrogen technology and we discovered that it is a completely different story. My role today is to promote hydrogen and above all to accompany the creation of hydrogen ecosystems in Europe.

‍

What do like about hydrogen?

This is a technology which is powerful and at the same time silent and calm when you drive.I am really fascinated by the water cycle that it creates. It is a natural and clean element that is available everywhere (in the reasonable quantities which we need) and that we discharge at the end of the process. Of course, for this to really make sense, the hydrogen used must be produced using renewable resources.

‍

Batman has the Joker, Peter Pan has Captain Hook … what (or who) are you fighting against day-to-day?

The hydrogen project really means starting from zero with different game rules. Everything has to be reinvented, challenged and adapted. It is what we have been working on internally for several years and we are very far ahead, but we must now support this work externally – infrastructure must be developed, customer attitudes need changing... You need to believe in it and persuade and drive people!Thermal combustion engine models will be stopped in a few years, in 2028 at Opel, for example. Everyone knows it; now we must act.

‍

Why is your business a pioneer in its field?

Stellantis is the first manufacturer to make series production hydrogen utility vehicles in Europe and it started production in 2022. In 2024, we will start producing at the Hordain plant, where we today produce combustion engine (diesel) and electric (battery) vans.

‍

If you had a super power, what would it be? And If you were a super hero, who would you be?

I would bring everyone in line – the filling stations, vehicle manufacturers and green hydrogen producers – so that hydrogen becomes the norm.That would also significantly bring prices down so that more people could switch to this energy.

‍

Who is your favourite hero?

MacGyver. He’s smart and he always finds the right technical solution to things!

Meet them all

MORE INFO ON HYDROGEN

DFS Hydrogen Dispenser : Inside the Complex World of Hydrogen Stations - An interview with Simon Keuschnig, Global Key account manager at Dover Fueling Solutions

February 19, 2024

Hydrogen stations are popping up everywhere in Europe (see our map) and will continue to achieve the goal of having one every 150km. But how does a hydrogen station work exactly? Today, I have a discussion with Simon Keusching, global Key Account Manager for Dover Fueling Solutions® (DFS), focusing on hydrogen solutions. DFS has experience of more than 130 years in the fuel and convenience retail industry and officially launched the DFS Hydrogen dispenser in 2022.

‍

Claire: What is the specificity of constructing a hydrogen station?

To explain how innovative it is, I like to compare it with diesel stations. There are some safety rules associated with both, obviously, but the process is pretty simple.

For hydrogen it is highly different because there is a full hydrogen process plant within the station, aggregating a lot of engineering components.

‍

C: Could you detail that hydrogen process happening within the station?

There are five main components aggregated:

· The offloading panel: it takes hydrogen from the tube trailer to the compressor

· The compressor: when you start to onload, at the beginning, you have a lot pressure in the tube trailer (350bar). But as the tube trailer is emptying, the pressure decreases also. The compressor works then to put more pressure on the hydrogen. The compressor also raises the pressure up to 450 bar so that more hydrogen can be stored on the station and the filling can be done quicker. For Heavy Duty Truck, the tank needs to be filled with 350 bar and 700 bar for passenger cars.

· The buffer: we need to store some hydrogen at high pressure in the station to make sure it is available any time at the right pressure and to store more hydrogen

· The cooling system: when we load a vehicle with hydrogen, and the charging is fast, it is heating a lot and could be dangerous: so we need to cool the hydrogen before. It could be done without cooling, but it would be longer.

· The dispenser and the nozzle: this part is responsible to regulate the pressure, the temperature, the flow and the quantity “delivered” into the car.

It looks complex inside but for a user the experience is very similar: very fast!

‍

C: We see a lot of new energy solutions for vehicles, and it is sometime confusing to know which one to choose. What is your opinion on that?

Indeed, there are a lot of alternative fuels, at the moment. For example:

· Gas, CNG, LPG, LNG. These are still fossil fuels that burn in the engine. They reduce emissions by around 30%.

· Bio-gas. This is also a solution that we can liquify and use in the same infrastructure as LNG. Transforming waste into gas is also an interesting solution but it still emits CO2 when the vehicle runs.

For me, the main solutions for the future are:

· Green hydrogen: for heavy duty trucks, vehicles running a lot, etc.

· Decarbonized electricity: for light cars.

· E-fuels produced with green hydrogen for even more powerful solutions.

Hydrogen is still at the beginning, what are the next hurdles to come across?

The goal is to standardize the equipment and the mass production of every component. Almost every player of the hydrogen value chain has to scale up in the upcoming years. The demand is here but we need to have the right people, the right components and we need them quickly.

The positive points are that there is a lot of private and public investments done, AND now, it looks like everyone starts to align on a big ambition for hydrogen.

‍

You want to learn more about hydrogen at Dover Fueling solutions? Discover their podcast episodes:

‍

Read article

Driving around France in a hydrogen car is anything but impossible for the Moviatech team!

September 19, 2023

Driving around France in a hydrogen car is anything but impossible for the Moviatech team!
Biarritz, Lyon, Lille... In 2021, the Moviatech team took on the challenge of driving to all these cities in a hydrogen car to understand what could still be holding back long hydrogen journeys. Drawing on their experience, they then developed an app designed to help users plan these hydrogen trips. Phillip Van der Merwe, CEO of Moviatech, shares his insights.

‍

Lesson #1: It's possible!
‍

"We planned our tour of France and managed to complete it on time, without any major hitches. It wasn't easy, it wasn't always smooth, but we did it. We took national roads, highways, and even drove from Paris to Lille and back on a single tank. Most importantly, we met many people who had never seen a hydrogen car before!
What's great about these cars is the comfort – they're very quiet, even on the highway!"

‍

Lesson #2: Access to stations is still a real constraint

‍

"The first step is to know where the stations are and the conditions for accessing them. This information is available, but you still need to plan your route in advance.
When we arrived at the stations we had planned on our routes, they were not always open, not always ready to fill our tank (they need to build up pressure and this can take time between fill-ups), and sometimes specific subscriptions were needed to pay for the fuel. In short, there were many constraints to manage before arriving at the station, often by calling the station directly. We experienced a 30-minute refueling stop because everything was ready, but we also waited 16 hours for a fill-up because a truck had refueled just before us!"

‍

Lesson #3: An app is needed to simplify all this

‍

"We returned with one conviction: the situation was not acceptable for new hydrogen users, and an app had to be created to make life easier for everyone so that this mode of transport could be widely adopted and help us decarbonize mobility. We created a patented app where you can see available stations, book a time slot, view the price of hydrogen, and see if the hydrogen is green or not. You can also plan your trip. This app also allows you to pay for the transaction with a single payment method.
Thanks to the use of AI, data, and blockchain, and the transmission of data between stations, energy producers, and vehicles, we eliminate all barriers related to the use of a hydrogen vehicle."

Read article

Hydrogen Corridor: Charting the Path to a Renewable Future

May 30, 2023

Delve into the concept of hydrogen corridors, a vital component of our clean energy transition. Explore how these networks of hydrogen refuelling stations along major highways are revolutionizing transportation. Discover the collaborative efforts of governments, businesses, and researchers that give birth to hydrogen infrastructure corridors. Learn about the strategic layout of refuelling stations, the magic of the hydrogen network, and the role of renewable hydrogen in powering these corridors. Uncover the economic and environmental impact of hydrogen corridors and the challenges that must be overcome on the road to a greener future. Envision the potential of hydrogen corridors in shaping our transportation landscape and propelling us towards a sustainable tomorrow.

‍

An Introduction to the Hydrogen Corridor

‍

Hydrogen corridors are an integral part of the hydrogen infrastructure, incorporating a chain of hydrogen refuelling stations along major highways to facilitate hydrogen-powered transportation.

‍

How Hydrogen Infrastructure Corridors are Born

‍

The inception of a hydrogen infrastructure corridor starts with an ambitious plan to revolutionize transportation. Governments, businesses, and research institutions collaborate to build a network of refuelling stations, thereby creating a clean energy highway.

‍

The Layout of a Hydrogen Refuelling Corridor

‍

A hydrogen refuelling corridor is carefully planned. The station placements take into account the range of hydrogen vehicles, ensuring drivers can refuel conveniently and continue their journey.

‍

The Magic of the Hydrogen Network Corridor

‍

The hydrogen network corridor allows for the expansion of the hydrogen economy, promoting the use of renewable hydrogen in transportation. It brings together stakeholders in the hydrogen industry, unifying their efforts to ensure a cleaner, greener future.

‍

Renewable Hydrogen in the Hydrogen Corridor

‍

Renewable hydrogen, produced from renewable energy sources like wind and solar, is the green fuel of choice for the hydrogen corridor. This carbon-neutral fuel makes hydrogen corridors an invaluable asset in our quest for a sustainable future.

‍

H2 Corridor: A Quick Look

‍

An H2 corridor, simply another name for a hydrogen corridor, is a testament to the growth of renewable hydrogen. These corridors are proof of the expanding role of renewable hydrogen in our society.

‍

The Stakeholders Behind the Hydrogen Corridor

‍

The success of a hydrogen corridor is driven by a diverse array of stakeholders. Governments set policies and provide funding, businesses invest in infrastructure, and researchers work tirelessly to improve hydrogen technologies.

‍

The Economic Impact of Hydrogen Infrastructure Corridors

‍

Hydrogen infrastructure corridors provide a significant boost to the economy. They create jobs, stimulate technological innovation, and increase the demand for renewable hydrogen.

‍

The Environmental Benefits of Hydrogen Refuelling Corridors

‍

Hydrogen refuelling corridors, fuelled by renewable hydrogen, are a giant leap towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They promise a future where we can travel long distances without leaving a carbon footprint.

‍

Overcoming Challenges in Developing a Hydrogen Network Corridor

‍

Despite the immense potential of a hydrogen network corridor, there are hurdles to overcome. High costs, technological challenges, and market acceptance are just a few of these. However, as solutions are found, these challenges become stepping stones to success.

‍

The Future of the Hydrogen Corridor

‍

With advances in hydrogen technology and increasing support from governments and businesses, the future of the hydrogen corridor is bright. These green highways are set to become a common sight, making renewable hydrogen the fuel of choice for the transportation sector.

‍

Conclusion

‍

Hydrogen corridors are much more than just highways lined with refuelling stations. They represent our collective effort to build a sustainable future. With each new hydrogen corridor, we move a step closer to a world where renewable hydrogen is not just an alternative, but the norm.

‍

Read article

Read more