• Study results of the University of Stuttgart on the use of the natural gas
    network for hydrogen confirm the assessment
  • SIQENS calls instead for the upgrading of the gas network to be driven forward

“The demanded dismantling of the existing gas network worth 300 billion EUR, in order to then build a pure hydrogen system for even more money, is pure philistinism of some political circles!” This verdict comes from the CEO of SIQENS GmbH, Dr. Thomas Klaue.

It supports the demand of the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW) to press ahead with the upgrading of the existing gas network. Their request is based on the findings of a recent scientific study by the Materials Testing Institute of the University of Stuttgart. According to the study, the steel pipelines installed in Germany’s 550,000 km gas network are proving to be well suited for transporting hydrogen.

“What we already know from other countries is now also confirmed for Germany: Our gas network is available as a storage and transport medium, as well as a distribution network – even in the short-term,” says SIQENS CEO Klaue. With the help of existing and proven technologies, it is thus possible to produce hydrogen locally at any location. And it can be done with just 10% of the energy input required by an electrolyzer, according to SIQENS.

“Germany has the technical capability today to actively address the issue of hydrogen supply. Existing infrastructures could be used without unnecessary investments in a new infrastructure,” states Dr. Klaue. “It is time for action. The time for political decision-makers to address these issues is now.”

About SIQENS

SIQENS, founded 2012 in Munich, is a leading provider of methanol fuel cells and technology for electrochemical hydrogen separation (EHS). The Company’s methanol fuel cell product line (Ecoport) supplies clean energy in remote areas or backup power to critical applications. Built on its patented high- temperature polymer electrolyte membrane (HT-PEM) technology portfolio for power generation, SIQENS offers solutions to separate and purify hydrogen at the point of use from several feed gases – as from hydrogen-blends in natural gas pipelines or reformate gases from methanol or biogas. The SIQENS technology portfolio addresses the challenge of last-mile hydrogen distribution: Driving the decarbonization of power generation, transportation, and industry by reducing the cost of hydrogen delivery.

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