Efficient solutions for the hydrogen economy
Many industries simply cannot be operated without CO₂. For processes involving high temperatures or special chemical reactions, hydrogen is an important step towards replacing fossil fuels with sustainable energy sources, thus initiating the energy transition. These industries account for a high proportion of total global CO₂ emissions. This makes it all the more important for H₂ to be available in large quantities and as cost-effectively as possible.
"Comprehensive advice from our experts, the right product portfolio for potentially explosive environments and a passion for such a crucial topic – that is our recipe for success for the next step into a green future," is how Alexander Vargas summarises what we have to offer. "With us, you can automate your applications along the entire hydrogen value chain efficiently and safely, and also make them scalable. We tackle your challenges together with you, whether for centralised or decentralised automation solutions, space-saving control cabinets or modular concepts."
Safety in every process step
Is hydrogen dangerous? It is a colourless, volatile and non-toxic gas, but it is extremely flammable and must be handled at high pressure. Hydrogen has already been produced for decades, the processes are well-known and the risk can be controlled with appropriate safety precautions. We offer you both the necessary expertise in the areas of explosion prevention and protection and functional safety (SIL) as well as a suitable product portfolio. We discuss your requirements together and develop concepts that ensure reliable and safe operation of your system even in the event of faults and malfunctions.
Ideas for your automation
Green hydrogen production with electrolysis
Electrolysers are essential for producing green hydrogen. Here renewable energies are used for the CO₂-neutral conversion of water into oxygen and hydrogen. Make the most of our expertise and increase the efficiency of your hydrogen production with our automation solutions.
Efficient compressor stations for hydrogen
Once produced, the green hydrogen, whether as a raw material for industry or as an energy source, has to be made transportable in order to get it to where it will be used. It can, for example, be compressed in a compressor station. We offer a wide range of Ex- and SIL-certified products for the safe automation of the processes in your system.
Control cabinet solutions for demanding requirements
Whether you need a control cabinet for potentially explosive atmospheres or want to simplify the maintenance of your automation components, we will support you with the needs-based planning and execution of your solution. If the focus is on safety, a centralised automation concept may be the ideal solution. Of course, we can also analyse the functional safety (SIL) of your control cabinet, if required.
FAQs
What is green hydrogen?
Water can be split into oxygen and hydrogen by using a process known as electrolysis. If the energy required for this process comes from renewable resources such as wind or solar energy, it is referred to as green hydrogen. This means CO₂ emissions can be avoided, in contrast to conventional production methods using fossil fuels.
What can hydrogen be used for?
Hydrogen can be used to store surplus energy from wind or solar power plants and feed it back into the power grid when needed. The gas can also be used to operate fuel cells.
How important is safety when handling gas?
The right automation technology plays a fundamental role in ensuring safety, for instance through explosion prevention and protection. It is of central importance if applications with hydrogen are to be automated. It is crucial that the required functional safety level (SIL) for electrolysers and hydrogen refuelling stations is complied with in order to limit the risk. This can be achieved by using suitable components and solutions.
What do I need to bear in mind when using H₂?
The costs of hydrogen production can be high, so it is vital to use it economically. Efficient automation can help to optimise processes and make them secure. Having a suitable infrastructure for production, storage and distribution is also key. As hydrogen is a highly flammable gas, appropriate safety precautions are necessary.
What is power-to-X?
Power-to-X refers to technologies that are used to produce fuel, power and raw materials from electrical energy. These processes can be used to store surpluses of renewable energy. This means that the energy can also be utilised for industries and processes in which this would otherwise not be easy to do. The X stands for different forms of energy or uses, such as power-to-gas, power-to-liquid or power-to-heat.
