Given ambitious climate targets, the focus is turning increasingly to green hydrogen as a source of energy. In this case, green means that the electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen is powered by electricity from renewable sources.
There is no lack of visionary projects in this innovative field. In the EU member states, the rollout of more than 230 electrolyzer projects with an output of 136 GW by 2040 has been announced. However, at the present time, 95% of the hydrogen used in industry, for example, is still generated from fossil fuels.
DEKRA sees enormous potential for using green hydrogen to achieve a sustainable future – in mobility, in industry, and in building management.
Since July 2021, DEKRA has been contributing its know-how to Hydrogen Europe. At the top of this industry organization’s agenda is the definition of norms and standards as a prerequisite for a successful transition to the hydrogen economy. Both are areas in which DEKRA has many years of experience and expertise.
Thanks to its audit and certification expertise in process industries, DEKRA holds a promising starting position for the hydrogen era. Today, it is already possible to certify low-carbon hydrogen or audit compliance with safety standards in the production, transport, and storage of this flammable gas.
Inspecting high-pressure gas lines
1) How do you assess the potential of hydrogen technology?
The fact is that phasing out fossil fuels in line with the Paris Climate Agreement can ultimately only succeed through the implementation of technology based on green hydrogen. Overall, the potential applications are very diverse – whether as fuel in the mobility sector, as raw material solution for emissions-intensive industries such as the fertilizer, chemical, steel, and cement industries, or as fuel for commercial and residential building heating. In addition, hydrogen is ideal as storage and transport medium for green energy.
2) Where do you see the biggest challenges for the future?
For a reliable supply of green hydrogen, policymakers must create the necessary framework conditions in terms of infrastructure and economic efficiency as quickly as possible so that consumers, companies, and countries can rely on uninterrupted access to sufficient quantities of hydrogen. At the same time, the highest standards of safety and environmental compatibility must be ensured for all parties involved in production and transport as well as storage and supply of hydrogen.
3) What services and solutions does DEKRA offer regarding hydrogen?
We’re already well positioned in this area with hazard and risk analyses, certifications of pressure equipment, inspections of high-pressure gas pipelines and storage tanks, and services in the field of explosion protection. At the same time, we’re working hard to sustainably expand our portfolio of competencies – for example, to include pipeline inspections.
We have recently recruited new staff and appointed a hydrogen program manager specifically to coordinate our services across all DEKRA service divisions and to provide advice. Our goal is to offer customers a one-stop solution platform.
