Technical Programme “Materials Safety for the Hydrogen Economy”

Technical programme started with eight leading companies from the energy sector

20. June 2024

The planned climate neutrality and the associated energy transition as well as maximum carbon neutrality in industry and the transport sector require the expansion of renewable energies and the use of hydrogen and its derivatives that are as green as possible. The market ramp-up of hydrogen is currently being vigorously pursued worldwide in order to achieve the ambitious climate targets by curbing CO₂ emissions.

In the field of power generation, hydrogen-capable (H₂-ready) gas-fired power plants are needed above all to balance out the volatile generation of renewable energies and to supply balancing energy for the necessary grid stability.

However, it will be some time before 100% hydrogen power plants and the necessary fully functional and economical H₂ infrastructure are available.

However, the co-combustion of hydrogen, especially in existing plants, is not trivial and requires above all adjustments to the existing infrastructure. Hydrogen embrittlement can lead to reduced service life, serious damage and even failure of pipework, components and seals, i.e. existing plants have to be upgraded accordingly. In this context, materials safety is of immense importance.

vgbe has initiated the Technical Programme¹ “Materials Safety for the Hydrogen Economy” in order to find practical and solution-oriented answers to the open questions of future hydrogen use in new and existing plants. This is the ideal way to support the market ramp-up of the hydrogen economy in this area. So far, eight leading companies in the energy sector are taking part in this programme:

The first step is to set up the steering committee, to which each participating company can delegate a representative. The steering committee will further detail the roadmap of the TP, identify and initiate projects so that the joint activities can be further advanced.

¹ Technical Programmes represent a project-oriented approach to the implementation of one or more com-bined activities of cross-cutting or innovative nature in accordance with the objectives set out in the vgbe Statutes. Technical Programmes provide more flexible implementation conditions in terms of participation, i.e. also non-vgbe members can participate in Technical Programmes.