Linde is the only company to cover every step in the hydrogen value chain from production and processing through distribution and storage to everyday industrial and consumer applications. Building on decades of research and countless real-world projects, Linde’s hydrogen capabilities demonstrate its innovative power and proven expertise in delivering workable, economically viable hydrogen technologies suited to mass deployment.
Demand for hydrogen technologies is rising given their potential to accelerate the transition to more sustainable forms of energy while still supporting current energy models with all their regional variations. Hydrogen is a zero-emissions source of fuel for trains, buses and cars. It can be used as a feedstock gas for industries such as chemical, refining and steel. In addition, it is a source of heat and power for buildings, and can buffer energy generated from renewable sources.
Hydrogen offers compelling benefits. First and foremost, it supports a gradual transition towards lower-carbon sources of energy as it can be generated from natural gas and other non-renewable by-products. In addition, it can be used as an energy carrier; in other words, a medium to store energy from renewable and other sources. Looking to the future, it can be generated at scale with a zero carbon footprint by using renewable energy such as solar or wind power, for instance, to split water (electrolysis).
Gray hydrogen is obtained from fossil fuels. Steam reformers are used to convert natural gas, for instance, by means of steam addition. The resulting hydrogen-rich synthesis gas is then further processed. During the gray H2 generation process, the carbon dioxide (CO2) by-product escapes into the atmosphere. By contrast, with blue hydrogen, the CO2 is captured in a downstream process. And green hydrogen is produced exclusively from renewable sources. However, so far it has not been possible to produce the green variant of H2 in sufficient quantities.
Hydrogen can smooth the transition to a more sustainable energy economy. Not only can H2 be used as a zero-emission fuel for trains, buses, trucks, automobiles and ships, but also as a feedstock for various industries including chemistry, refining and steelmaking. In addition, hydrogen can provide a source of energy and heat for buildings and can store energy produced from renewable sources.
This technology works by physically binding gas molecules to an adsorbing material. The binding force between the molecules and the adsorbent depends on a number of factors, including the type of gas. This binding process creates a separation effect. Unlike carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2), highly volatile components with low polarity like hydrogen have a negligible binding force. So while the impurities adhere to the adsorbent, hydrogen is able to flow right through.
A wide range of industries including metalworking, medical technology, electronics and food processing use liquefied gases. These gases are always supplied to customers in liquid form so that they can be stored on site for later use. That is why we deliver not only cryogenic solutions for the liquefaction of H2 but also suitable tanks for reliable and efficient storage. The inner tanks and piping systems are manufactured from stainless steel to guarantee a high purity grade. This is particularly important for the foodstuff and electronics industries. The outer shell has a special coating that guarantees excellent insulation from ambient effects.
Instead of using a metal compression piston, this process works with an ionic liquid. More specifically, the liquid is an organic salt which behaves like a solid in the compression process. The ionic liquid acts as a lubricant and a refrigerant at the same time. Being anti-corrosive, it reduces maintenance costs and is significantly more efficient than conventional compressors.
These are used to convert liquid hydrogen cooled to minus 253 degrees Celsius into high-pressure hydrogen. This enables H2 vehicles to be quickly and efficiently refueled from a storage tank containing liquid hydrogen. The direct compression of LH2 hugely reduces the energy consumption of a hydrogen fueling station because the cooling capacity of liquid hydrogen means that no additional cooling power is needed for the compression process.
Linde has engineered and built 200 hydrogen refueling stations. As such, we have the biggest installed base and the most experience worldwide. Cars, buses and forklifts have already refueled far over 1.5 million times using our technology. Today, we are building major bus depots in various locations around the world. We also supplied the world’s first H2 station for passenger trains.
Hydrogen-powered cars can be refueled with Linde’s proprietary compression technologies in three to five minutes. They can drive up to 800 kilometers before needing to refuel.
Yes, Linde has been serving buses for some time now and we are currently building the world’s very first HRS for passenger trains. In 2011, for example, a hydrogen fueling station for buses operated by the company AC Transit opened up in Emeryville, California. That was the first time that Linde’s Ionic Compressor was used in the US for the refueling of buses. Local transit (or public transport) is one of the important focus applications for hydrogen, and Linde is involved in numerous projects that are advancing developments in this field. Many more bus fueling stations have since been installed and the trend is upward - worldwide. Linde has pioneered many of the enabling technologies and is engaged in several groundbreaking projects. These include the fueling of hydrogen trains developed by the company Alstom. The Coradia iLint is the world’s first passenger train powered by fuel cells and H2. Linde is currently building a hydrogen fueling station for twelve Coradia iLints in Bremervörde, Germany. The facility has a capacity of around 1,600 kilograms of hydrogen a day, making it one of the world’s largest hydrogen fueling stations.
Linde’s custom-developed, patented Ionic Compressor uses five hydraulic pistons to gradually compress the hydrogen to a pressure of either 500 bar or 900 bar. What is the right outlet pressure is depending n the vehicles to be refueled: buses, trains and trucks mainly come with 350 bar tanks, passenger cars with 700 bar.
Yes, Linde is driving the technology and infrastructure innovations needed to accelerate the transition to greener forms of hydrogen Demand for clean hydrogen has risen significantly in recent years. This transition is enabled largely by water electrolysis, using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. So, we formed a joint venture with ITM Power called ITM Linde Electrolysis. Together with this joint venture,we build and as of mid-2022 will operate the world's largest Proton Exchange Membrane electrolysis plant in Leuna, Germany, producing 4,500 standard cubic meters of hydrogen every hour. Since the PEM electrolyzer is predominantly powered by nearby renewable energy sources, the site will produce up to 3,200 metric tons of green hydrogen per year. This is sufficient to power around 600 fuel-cell buses, enabling them to travel 40 million kilometers while saving up to 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. Leuna will become an important reference, while we work already today on more and larger projects globally and for customers of all relevant market segments.
For us, promoting hydrogen mobility also means making it easier for this clean fuel to enter the infrastructure. That's why we developed a mobile fueling station called FuelBox which is compact and transportable. It is equipped with the proven Linde Ionic Compressor technology. With the FuelBox, 350 kilograms of hydrogen can be refueled per day. The unit is available in two pressure levels: the 350 bar option enables heavy-duty vehicles to be refueled ten times per day. With the 700 bar variant for cars, 65 vehicles can be refueled with hydrogen every day. The ready-to-use equipment can be stored in two containers stacked on top of each other and therefore only needs a floor space of twelve square meters. Only a foundation plate is required on site. The ready-to-use system can be installed immediately at almost any location. The FuelBox guarantees fast, highly efficient and comfortable refueling times as well as high capacities. For customers who want to test their fuel-cell vehicle fleets or who want to test their hydrogen infrastructure in terms of performance, the FuelBox is an optimal solution. The new CE-certified system is designed for the European market and can also be used as a permanent refueling unit.