In conversation with Stefan Kaufmann

von Lis Blume | Okt. 13, 2022 | Interview, Netzwerkinformation, News, Pressemitteilungen

In conversation with Dr. Stefan Kaufmann

Source: NWN

Lis Blume (NWN) and Dr. Stefan Kaufmann in conversation. ©NWN

Energy infrastructure of tomorrow

For the successful development of a hydrogen economy, an international hydrogen infrastructure is needed. Lis Blume from the NWN talks with Dr. Stefan Kaufmann, the former federal representative for hydrogen, about Lower Saxony's role in the transformation of the energy sector, regulation and certificates for green hydrogen, EU policy and international partnerships.

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Interview: No energy transition without skilled workers

von Lis Blume | Sep. 12, 2022 | Interview, Netzwerkinformation, News, Pressemitteilungen

In conversation with Dr. Ruggero Capperucci

Lis Blume (NWN) and Dr. Ruggero Capperucci (University of Oldenburg) during the interview in Oldenburg. ©NWN

We cannot achieve an energy transition without skilled workers

The successful development of a hydrogen economy requires comprehensive education and training in many sectors. This is because the switch to hydrogen technologies is accompanied by numerous changes in production processes, energy and vehicle use. The NWN therefore summarizes current qualification offers and provides an overview of the most important offers in Lower Saxony.

Lis Blume, responsible for communications at the NWN, therefore spoke to Dr. Ruggero Capperucci, contact person for the "Hydrogen for specialists and managers" training course at Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Leibniz University Hannover and the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES.

"We need 70,000 hydrogen specialists in Germany by 2030."

Mr. Capperucci, are our skilled workers well prepared for the energy transition?

RC: Dear Ms. Blume, unfortunately I have to give you a clear answer: No. There is currently a serious shortage of hydrogen specialists in Germany. An estimate by the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (DWV) assumes that 70,000 new specialists will need to be trained for the hydrogen cycle by 2030 - and that's before the latest international events have given a decisive boost to energy independence and the green transition at national and EU level.

Hydrogen as an important building block in the energy supply has been a recurring topic in recent decades, starting in the 1980s. The topic itself is not new - but why is there still a lack of expertise in dealing with the gas?

RC: Green hydrogen will develop its market potential in various sectors over the next ten years. The technology for using hydrogen for energy purposes has been well known for decades. Nevertheless, its large-scale application requires a rethink and an adaptation of the entire economic and industrial system at various levels. The energy transition with hydrogen as a central "bridge" for the coupling of different sectors brings with it a multitude of technological, but also legal, economic and operational challenges. Last but not least, politics and administration are also required to initiate and support the transition.

©Aleksey-Stemmer

"Competent specialists and managers in all areas along the value chain, as well as in politics and administration, are needed to build a hydrogen economy."

We always talk about the skilled workers and managers in the companies. You are now also bringing the administration into play - what role does it play in the development of the hydrogen economy?

RC: There is currently a strong political will for the transformation of the industry and numerous investments in pilot projects. Competent specialists and managers in all areas along the value chain, as well as in politics and administration, are needed to develop a hydrogen economy. In addition, hydrogen economy projects are complex, interdisciplinary and innovative. A dedicated training program can shorten the learning curve and reduce the cost of mistakes.

Can you be more specific?

RC: Let me give you a few examples: For the use of hydrogen vehicles in the vehicle fleet, dedicated logistics must also be provided the decision for a system determines a company for years and entails numerous subsequent decisions. Employees of banks or insurance companies must be able to assess the technical dimensions of a hydrogen project in order to evaluate its feasibility and financial viability. Employees of public administrations must review applications for new hydrogen-related plants and facilities, and business development agencies must recognize the opportunities and challenges that the hydrogen economy offers for their region. All these people need continuous, comprehensive and up-to-date training and further education.

On laptop diverse people collage webcam view over woman shoulder

Source: MU

Olaf Lies, Minister for the Environment, Energy, Building and Climate Protection in Lower Saxony (center), is committed to the rapid development of the hydrogen economy. To this end, he has launched a funding guideline to support companies such as aha in Hanover in their transition to sustainable energy. ©NWN

What qualifications do specialists need to work with renewable energies, but above all with hydrogen?

RC: This depends on the sector in which you work: But in general, in addition to the qualifications they already have, any specialist who wants to deal with renewable energies and hydrogen in particular needs the necessary specialist knowledge. They should also be able to look at renewable energy projects and the hydrogen economy from different perspectives, understand them as well as possible and communicate with various players/trades in these areas.

Which specialists, for example, take part in further training at the University of Oldenburg?

RC: Our participants include professionals from a wide range of backgrounds: Engineers who want to gain specific know-how about hydrogen technologies, bankers who want to address specific economic issues around timelines and price drivers for hydrogen, and so on. Importantly, however, these professionals are asked to work together to develop a virtual hydrogen project that encompasses all these aspects, so that each can not only contribute their own discipline, but also learn to see through the eyes of the other and get a complete picture of the whole project process.

The training is offered in a combination of classroom and online sessions, as well as excursions. ©AdobeStock

"Managers need to understand the 'ecosystem' of the hydrogen economy."

Now we've talked about specialists. In which areas do managers need to undergo further training in order to stay on the ball?

RC: Managers must decide whether and how the hydrogen economy is relevant to their company or division and, if so, establish a business segment. The decentralized nature of renewable energies offers opportunities for many companies whose managers need to understand the "ecosystem" of the hydrogen economy. In addition to a basic technical understanding, this also requires knowledge of the components, dimensions, players and political dimensions of hydrogen projects and the hydrogen economy. They must also be able to assess possible business models and know which skills and people they need for a hydrogen project.

Your assessment: Will we see completely new training professions or will the topic of hydrogen have to be integrated into existing training programs?

RC: In the short term, the urgent need for specialists must be met with our own new courses and programs, such as ours. We are aiming to provide the necessary specialist and general knowledge as well as the various perspectives and independent orientation skills in the hydrogen economy in six months with a high-quality academic training program that has a strong practical orientation. In the medium term, I believe that the topic of hydrogen will increasingly become part of the normal training canon. But even in this phase, I see good prospects for our program of further training for specialists and managers in the hydrogen economy.

Source: NWN

Hydrogen for specialists and managers

The further education program of the Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Leibniz University Hannover and the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES builds on the participants' existing professional qualifications and experience and enables them to assess, initiate and manage hydrogen projects. During the training, a hydrogen project is planned and calculated realistically.

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Training opportunities in the hydrogen sector

The successful development of a hydrogen economy requires comprehensive training and further education in many sectors. The NWN summarizes the current offers here and provides an overview of the relevant qualifications in Lower Saxony.

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Lower Saxony sets course for financing large-scale hydrogen projects

von Lis Blume | Aug. 30, 2022 | Netzwerkinformation, News, Pressemitteilungen

Press release

Lower Saxony sets course for financing large-scale hydrogen projects

On Tuesday, August 30, 2022, the cabinet launched the financing for the production and import of hydrogen and thus set the course for the future energy supply. As part of the European IPCEI program for hydrogen technologies and systems, a sustainable green hydrogen economy is to be established in Lower Saxony.

The German government, with co-financing from the German states, supports large, cross-border projects in the field of hydrogen technologies and systems through IPCEI "Important Projects of Common European Interest" and according to the State Aid Guidelines for Climate, Environment and Energy (KUEBLL).

At the beginning of 2021, companies were able to submit project outlines for investment projects in an expression of interest procedure. In the meantime, more than 400 projects from 18 countries have been registered at EU level and will be notified by the EU Commission in various "waves", i.e. examined and approved under state aid law.

On May 28, 2021, 62 major German projects were selected by the federal government in consultation with the states. The projects are to receive over eight billion euros in federal and state funding.

Lower Saxony benefits far above average from the support program. Its location on the coast with seaports, a well-developed gas network, large cavern storage facilities and the enormous potential of renewable energies predestine Lower Saxony as a generation center, import hub and hub of the German and European hydrogen economy.

Provided today's cabinet decision is followed by a corresponding resolution in the September plenary session of the state parliament, over 2.3 billion euros in state funding would be mobilized for Lower Saxony's investments in hydrogen projects: The federal government is offering more than 1.6 billion euros if the state contributes another 700 million euros.

To finance this, the bill launched by the cabinet today provides for a further increase in the Economic Development Fund. On June 29, 2022, the Lower Saxony state parliament had already decided to allocate 459.5 million euros to the Economic Development Fund for this purpose, which was available due to the favorable course of the 2021 fiscal year. Now the Economic Development Fund is to receive further funds totaling 240 million euros for hydrogen projects in the years 2024 to 2026. The bill passed today is to be adopted - if possible - in the September plenary session.

"With a state share of 700 million euros, we are creating the conditions for co-financing twelve major, cross-border projects in the field of hydrogen technologies and systems. In total, we are talking about billions of euros in investments, including federal funding of more than 1.6 billion euros for industrial companies in Lower Saxony," says Minister President Stephan Weil. "Green hydrogen will be an essential pillar of our future energy supply. Lower Saxony is a leader in this respect. This is also a contribution to becoming Energy State No. 1."

Minister of Economics Bernd Althusmann says: "In addition to securing existing jobs by decarbonizing today's CO2-intensive industries, these projects represent a very great opportunity for the further industrial development of Lower Saxony. Renewable, inexpensive and securely available energy is a decisive locational advantage for new industrial settlements in Lower Saxony."

"With a strong hydrogen economy, we in Lower Saxony are doing our part for energy security and for Germany's independence. It is an important part of the foundation for the success of our climate policy goals. The production of green hydrogen, transport, storage and finally large-scale application must be thought through and managed together in terms of space and infrastructure. Only in this way can we succeed in building up electrolysis capacity on an industrial scale and reduce the costs of producing and using hydrogen," says Energy Minister Olaf Lies.

"In the medium-term plan for 2022 to 2026, we have already earmarked a total of 750 million euros for an 'investment offensive in Lower Saxony', which will now be used to counter-finance the promotion of hydrogen technology. This is money well spent, especially since we are mobilizing a total volume of over three billion euros. This is further proof that with a forward-looking financial policy, the black zero and three-digit million euro sums for future technologies are not a contradiction in terms," says Finance Minister Reinhold Hilbers.

Source: Lower Saxony State Chancellery

Background to IPCEI Hydrogen

The abbreviation "IPCEI" stands for "Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI)". An IPCEI program for hydrogen technologies and systems is intended to stimulate the development of a sustainable green hydrogen economy by providing investment support for cross-value-chain hydrogen projects on an industrial scale - both nationally and across Europe.

At the beginning of 2021, companies were able to submit project outlines for investment projects in an expression of interest procedure. In the meantime, over 400 projects from 18 countries have been registered at EU level and are being notified by the EU Commission, i.e. examined and approved under state aid law. On May 28, 2021, 62 major German projects were selected by the federal government in consultation with the states. The projects are to receive over eight billion euros in federal and state funding.

Lower Saxony is benefiting far more than average from this - with today's cabinet decision, over 2.3 billion euros in state funding can be mobilized for investment in Lower Saxony , assuming a corresponding resolution is passed by the state parliament in the September plenary session: The federal government is offering around 1.6 billion euros if the state contributes a further 700 million euros.

This would enable private-sector investment by industry and the energy sector worth several billion euros in Lower Saxony.

What is the purpose of this?

Construction of around 850 MW of electrolysis pipeline in Lower Saxony to be funded over the next 5 years - i.e. around 40% of the electrolysis capacity financed nationwide via this funding program is to be built in Lower Saxony !
With the current project , the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology expects a total of over 2 GW nationwide . By comparison, the target in the National Hydrogen Strategy is 10 GW of electrolysis capacity nationwide by 2030.
In addition: Creation of more than 500 km of hydrogen transport infrastructure in Lower Saxony, largely through the rededication of existing natural gas pipelines but also through the construction of new hydrogen pipelines as well as the conversion of caverns for natural gas storage to
Entry into the transformation of industry toward climate neutrality through the use of green hydrogen, e.g., in steel production and refinery processes.

Source: NWN

©NWN

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Seven milestones for the development of a hydrogen economy in Lower Saxony

von Raphael Stock | Juli 27, 2022 | Netzwerkinformation, News

News

Seven milestones for the development of a hydrogen economy in Lower Saxony

Lower Saxony has the best prerequisites for becoming hydrogen state number 1. The German Trade Union Federation, a partner in the Lower Saxony Hydrogen Network, has now presented the paper "Hydrogen for a climate-neutral industry in Lower Saxony" for the "Just Change" series. It outlines the role hydrogen can play in decarbonizing Lower Saxony's industrial sectors and the industrial policy measures needed to achieve this goal.

Felix Fleckenstein, project manager of the DGB in the Lower Saxony Hydrogen Network and author of the paper, comments: "The course must now be set for a sustainably successful and economically self-supporting hydrogen economy. In the long term, it must be possible to establish security of supply with hydrogen and to network the hydrogen projects with each other to form an overall system. This requires more government planning and investment. And it must be ensured that hydrogen technologies create and secure good jobs. In our new paper, we identify seven fields of action in which state policy should take action."

The paper is part of the "Just Change" series, in which the German Trade Union Confederation outlines possible solutions to the major challenges of our time - such as decarbonization, digitalization and globalization. The paper can be downloaded here.

Felix Fleckenstein, project manager of the DGB in the NWN and author of the paper.

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Steyerberg wants to become a central energy producer

von Lis Blume | Juli 6, 2022 | Industrie, Mobilität, Netzwerkinformation, News, Pressemitteilungen, Speicherung, Stromerzeugung, Wasserstoffherstellung

Projects

Steyerberg wants to become a central location for renewable energies

With only about 5,000 inhabitants, Flecken Steyerberg in the district of Nienburg wants to become a central energy location in Lower Saxony. On a former military site, green hydrogen is to be produced on an industrial scale with the green electricity from 12 wind turbines in the "H2art of Lower Saxony" project.

On his summer trip, Lower Saxony's Minister President Stephan Weil visited Steyerberg in the district of Nienburg on Tuesday, 05 July. There, on the 1,100-hectare former NATO forest site, a wind farm by the company WestWind Energy is to be built with 12 wind turbines that can generate up to 180 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year. The electricity will provide the base load for an electrolyser, but could also be fed into the grid, the organisers say. Additional electricity demand can be secured through the direct connection to the 380 kV north-south power line that transports offshore electricity to the south.

"Here we have the ideal triad of wind energy, biogas plant and the connection to the north-south electricity motorway. In addition, there is the favourable proximity to the future hydrogen start-up network, as planned in the gas network development plan," explains Christian Alvermann from the municipal economic development department."

The hydrogen is to be used locally. The local chemical plant Oxxynova plans to produce synthetic fuels and recycle plastic waste that has not been recyclable so far. In addition, hydrogen filling stations in the districts of Nienburg, Diepholz and Schaumburg can be supplied, as well as a planned hydrogen filling station for inland vessels on the Weser. A hydrogen storage facility is also to be set up on the site itself. The water required for this will be provided by four local waterworks.

Construction is scheduled for 2024. The capacity will then be increased in stages to 1GW of hydrogen.

Around 4 hectares of forest must be cleared for the construction of the wind turbines, which will be reforested. For the construction, already built-up areas will continue to be used, but also vacant areas where pine trees have already died due to drought.

Source: NWN

Lower Saxony's Minister President Stephan Weil informs himself on site. Picture: NWN

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aha: Into the future with green hydrogen

von Raphael Stock | Juli 6, 2022 | Mobilität, Netzwerkinformation, News, Wasserstoffherstellung

Projects

aha: Into the future with green hydrogen

On Tuesday, Environment and Energy Minister Olaf Lies presented Waste Management Hannover Region (aha) with a funding decision worth around 2.6 million euros for a hydrogen plasma analysis project. As part of the project, green hydrogen is to be produced on aha's premises with the help of bio-methane produced during waste treatment. This is then to be used in aha's vehicle fleet, which is increasingly being converted to hydrogen propulsion. In this context, a new fuel cell waste collection vehicle was also presented in more detail on 5 July.

Waste collection vehicles run on clean green hydrogen obtained from mechanical-biological waste treatment. This is not a vision of the future, because this is precisely the plan of the Waste Management Region Hannover (aha): The entire waste collection vehicle fleet is to be gradually converted to fuel cell-powered hydrogen vehicles. In order to supply its own hydrogen filling stations at the vehicle sites in the long term, the green hydrogen is to be produced and stored on the company's own premises.

"Bio-methane is produced during the biological-mechanical treatment of waste. This can either be used or further processed. Here, hydrogen is produced from bio-methane, which moves fuel cell-powered waste collection vehicles. This advances hydrogen mobility, which is a sensible solution for commercial vehicles with high energy requirements. As the No.1 hydrogen country, we are very happy to promote this. I am convinced that the regional politicians will approve the project for aha and support it successfully," says Olaf Lies, Lower Saxony's Minister for the Environment, Energy, Building and Climate Protection, on the occasion of the handover of the funding decision of approximately 2.6 million euros to aha.

Closed-loop approach to the production of green hydrogen

Partners in the project, which takes a sustainable closed-loop approach to the production of green hydrogen, are the research and development partner Graforce GmbH from Berlin and the Klimaschutzagentur Region Hannover gGmbH. Region President Steffen Krach emphasises: "The aim is to set up the public waste disposal company in a sustainable way in the long term. The climate goals can only be achieved if an efficient climate economy can be developed. On the way to a climate-neutral Hannover Region, we are setting a bold milestone with this project for a carbon-free economy as part of the energy transition."

Up to now, methane gas has been converted into electricity in block heating plants at the Hannover landfill site. "The methane comes from the outgassing waste from the landfill mountain and from the biological waste treatment plant," says Christine Karasch, Regional Councillor and Head of the Department for Environment, Planning and Building. "Methane gas is produced by fermenting residual and biological waste, which is converted to hydrogen and to carbon by bio-methane plasma-lysis using high-voltage technology." Compared to the conventional production of hydrogen, plasmalysis requires only a quarter of the amount of energy.

34.5 tonnes of CO2 saved per year

"With the new hydrogen-powered rubbish truck, 132 kilogrammes of CO2 can be saved every day, which is about 34.5 tonnes a year. We are thus setting a milestone in the topic of emission savings," explains aha Managing Director Thomas Schwarz. "This is because the EU "Clean vehicle directive" for the procurement of low-emission vehicles, in conjunction with the "Clean vehicle procurement law", sets a binding quota for the new procurement of zero-emission vehicles by 2025. In this way, aha reduces carbon dioxide emissions and thus greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere."

aha uses 230 waste collection vehicles every day in the Hannover region, which cover a distance of between 80 and 120 kilometres and consume an average of 55 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres. "In contrast, with the hydrogen vehicles, which are also funded by the state of Lower Saxony, around twelve kilogrammes of hydrogen are enough for two collection tours of eight hours each," says Frank Bier, deputy head of waste and recyclables collection at aha. "With a payload of 10.5 tonnes, the vehicle can load just as much waste as a conventional refuse collection vehicle."