TransHyDE ‐ Developing Solutions for Designing Ideal Hydrogen Infrastructures to Maximise Efficiency and Resilience

Dear readers, With the adoption of the National Hydrogen Strategy (NWS) in June 2020 and its update in July 2023, the German government strengthens the establishment of a hydrogen economy in Germany to achieve the Paris climate goals and to build an energy system based on renewable energies. To meet the required demand international imports will complement the national production. Supra-regional storage and transport infrastructures for green hydrogen are needed to ensure efficient temporal and spatial distribution. This is where TransHyDE comes in as one of three hydrogen flagship projects funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The project is coordinated by Prof. Robert Schlögl (Max Planck Society), Prof. Mario Ragwitz (Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Energy IEG) and Jimmie M. Langham (cruh21 GmbH - Part of Drees & Sommer). Over 100 partners and associated partners are working to resolve technological and economic barriers, analyse gaps in technical codes and regulatory frameworks, and contribute to closing them. This is implemented by ten TransHyDE projects for the energy vectors gaseous and liquid hydrogen as well as liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC) and ammonia. The results are continuously communicated via target-specific measures, e. g. whitepapers, scientific papers and events, to the scientific community, political decision-makers and the general public. This special issue of the scientific journal Energy Technology mirrors the comprehensive thematical set-up of the TransHyDE projects by illustrating their aspects of the transport and storage infrastructure of hydrogen and its derivates. The perspectives of the featured articles and reviews are remarkably diverse and span the full range from higher level topics like transitioning paths towards climate neutral gas grids to providing answers to specific, in-depth technological questions that need to be solved to make the models become reality. The technology-open approach of TransHyDE is clearly visible in this special issue as it is not limited to one specific hydrogen transport option or infrastructural component, where for example hydrogen storage with LOHC technology, as well as underground storage in sandstone formations and the direct usage of ammonia in combustion engines are examined next to one another. Studies on public acceptance and societal risk perception add to the technological perspectives and allow putting them into action. With this broad range of topics, the TransHyDE special issue invites readers to take a holistic approach to future transport and storage infrastructure of hydrogen and its derivates in Germany. We firmly believe that only by putting all our knowledge together and remaining technology-open we will be able to find efficient solutions to sensibly conclude the ongoing energy transition. System Analysis deals with the systemic analysis of transport solutions for hydrogen. The core task is the representation of the spatial and temporal development of the transport infrastructure for hydrogen from the perspective of the energy-intensive industry as well as the optimisation of economic costs. The roadmap developed in the project summarises the scientific-technical project progress, the systemic classification of the transport technologies and the resulting statements. Safe Infrastructure develops and demonstrates materials and engineering principles to ensure the safe operation of a hydrogen pipeline network. This involves modifying component designs, enhancing material mechanics and metrology, allowing for the testing of existing natural gas pipelines for H2 suitability and safe utilisation in H2 applications. Additionally, Safe Infrastructure also focuses on developing new products suitable for hydrogen applications. AmmoRef investigates and develops an application oriented, industrially feasible, safe and cost-effective technology for ammonia reforming, i. e. the recovery of pure hydrogen, in order to ensure an environmentally friendly, economical and safe solution for the future energy supply. AppLHy! analyses and applies various technologies for the supply, efficient storage and transport of liquid hydrogen (LH2). The works include hydrogen liquefaction, contactless level measurement and pumping, synergetic transport (LH2 and superconductivity) and utilisation of cold. Standardisation collates a status quo of technical standards and develops a needs analysis and recommendations for action to close gaps in standardisation and certification. LNG2Hydrogen develops a scientifically sound collation of data and formulates recommendations as a basis for decision-making to enable sustainable and long-term usage of LNG terminals as logistic hubs for hydrogen and its derivatives (H2 transport vectors). Additionally, further research and development needs are identified. Mukran investigates storage and transport of gaseous hydrogen to supply consumers who are not connected to a H2 pipeline network. Moreover, spherical storage vessels are being developed that are characterised by an optimal compromise between load- and material-appropriate geometry as well as low manufacturing and operating costs and thus enable efficient transport with a high payload ratio. GET H2 TransHyDE supports the development of pipeline-based transport infrastructure for hydrogen, essential infrastructure and operational issues are being addressed. In this regard, scientific and technical work objectives are being pursued along the entire transport chain from feed-in of green hydrogen to feed-out. CAMPFIRE develops the entire ammonia (NH3) value chain, from production to storage, transport and usage. This includes stationary and mobile applications, filling stations, logistics and infrastructure as well as regulatory framework and acceptance. Helgoland researches a ship-based hydrogen supply chain from the offshore area in the Schleswig-Holstein coastal sea to the hydrogen consumers on the mainland. In this supply chain, the example of Heligoland will be investigated as a model location for safely storing hydrogen via hydrogenation in liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC) based on the thermal oil benzyltoluene, and Hamburg as a location for releasing hydrogen from this LOHC via dehydrogenation.