We store hydrogen in a liquid organic carrier. The missing link to clean hydrogen supply chains.
Technology
Our LOHC Technology – disrupting hydrogen infrastructure
The LOHC Cycle
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and can be produced using renewable energy sources. At the same time, it has the lowest density of all gases and has nearly three times the energy content compared to gasoline. Long story short: Hydrogen is the best energy carrier known to mankind. But it is difficult to handle. Good news is, we found a way to bind the molecular hydrogen to a thermal oil making it very safe and very easy to transport – this is our LOHC technology.
High efficiency
- Competitive volumetric storage density 54 kg hydrogen per m³ LOHC
- Carrier material commercially available and reusable hundreds of times
- Fuel cell grade hydrogen purity according to ISO 14687 by using off-the-shelf purification technology
Enhanced flexibility
- Conventional liquid fuel infrastructure usable
- Handling at ambient temperatures and pressure during storage and transport
- No self-discharge over time – multi-month storage without losses
Superior safety
- No handling of molecular hydrogen
- Hardly flammable with flash point 112,5 °C, non-explosive, even when loaded with hydrogen
- Hazard potential comparable to Diesel and thus clearly superior to ammonia
Projects
Key stepping stones for ramping up the LOHC ecosystem
Green Hydrogen @ Blue Danube
IPCEI Green Hydrogen @ Blue Danube will be the first LOHC hub in Central Europe with a hydrogen release capacity of up to 1,800 tonnes per year. This hub will supply industrial offtakers in the Danube region and beyond by 2028.
Hector
Located at the CHEMPARK Dormagen, Project Hector is set to become the world’s largest facility for storing green hydrogen using LOHC technology. Together with Green Hydrogen at Blue Danube it will form a comprehensive LOHC value chain at industrial-scale.
One Reactor
In Project One Reactor we aim to unlock the full potential of LOHC as an energy storage medium. At the center of the project is a medium-scale facility with a hydrogen storage and release capacity of approximately up to 300 kg per day.
Demo Project Multi-SOFC
In collaboration with several strategic partners, we are deploying hydrogen-based energy for Hermann Josef Hospital (HJK) in Germany. This showcase project brings together our LOHC technology and Bosch’s Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC).
H2A-RP
In the joint cross-border lighthouse project H2A-RP, we are driving the installation of one of Europe’s first industrial large-scale LOHC ReleasePLANTS. We are enabling the import of 36,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year through LOHC technology.
H2Sektor
At the hydrogen refuelling station Erlangen we have established a complete LOHC supply chain with green hydrogen as a fuel for mobility. This demo project ranging from hydrogen production to end use shows the majurity of LOHC technology.
Technology Partners
Leading science and research advancing LOHC tech
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Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Founded in 1743, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) is now one of the largest research universities in Germany with about 38,000 students. One of the key research priorities of FAU is the subject area “energy, environment and climate”. In this field scientists are developing an interdisciplinary approach to producing renewable energy with printable photovoltaic technology, conversion into chemical energy using electrolysis and fuel cells – and scalable storage in LOHC. As a spin-off from FAU, Hydrogenious maintains a very close partnership when it comes to basic research. Even today FAU professors a part of Hydrogenious’ scientific advisory board.
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Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy
The Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN) investigates and develops material- and process-based solutions for a climate-neutral, sustainable, and cost-effective utilization of renewable energies. The institute works on the structural and functional characterization, modeling, and processing of materials relevant to hydrogen and solar technology. The common goal is the understanding of structure-performance-process relationship on the mesoscale. The “Chemical Hydrogen Storage” research department of HI ERN targets new chemical hydrogen storage technologies such as LOHC, related catalytic processes and material technologies. The HI ERN is set up as part of Forschungszentrum Jülich and is operated in close cooperation with Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB).
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Forschungszentrum Jülich
The Institute for a Sustainable Hydrogen Economy (INW) of Forschungszentrum Jülich will pool the scientific activities in this field within the H2 innovation centre of the Helmholtz hydrogen cluster HC-H2, where Forschungszentrum Jülich will bring its broad expertise with hydrogen to bear and connect with partners. Research at INW will focus on chemical hydrogen storage technologies using liquid and easily liquefiable hydrogen carriers that can be handled in a similar way to conventional fossil fuels. Research at INW will be conducted in at least four research fields, ranging from the nano- to the mesoscale and from the reactor to the system scale.
Logistics
Easy and efficient: We utilize conventional liquid-fuel infrastructure
We are about creating global LOHC supply chains for green hydrogen from production facilities to worldwide consumption markets. This LOHC network is designed to transport green hydrogen very safely and efficiently to the offtakers using the existing infrastructure for fossil fuels. In this network we are developing logistic solutions for all LOHC transport modes with the goal to establish multi-channel deliveries. Currently our focus is to establish a large-scale port to port LOHC infrastructure from where onward distribution is possible.
With similar but much less dangerous transport conditions than diesel, our LOHC material – benzyltoluene – has the potential to replace the current liquids in the energy sector: Bound to LOHC, hydrogen is stored at ambient conditions without the need of pressurized or cryogenic vessels. Plus, benzyltoluene is flame retardant, non-explosive and has a relatively low hazard potential.
LOHC transport
by ship
- Hydrogen transport capacity per trip: approx. 17,000 t (VLCC, 280k DWT)
- Ideal for large scale hydrogen transport on long distances
- Import of low-cost green hydrogen to consumption markets
- Low CAPEX thanks to the usage of the existing infrastructure
- Easy and fast handling by pumping a liquid
by train & barge
- Hydrogen transport capacity per trip: up to 124 t
- Ideal for transport on medium distances and distribution
- Usage of the existing port, ship, rail and train infrastructure
- Highly flexible distribution enabling global market supply
- Easy and fast handling by pumping a liquid
by tank truck
- Hydrogen transport capacity per trip: up to 1.6 t
- Ideal for short distances and distribution
- Standard unpressurized aluminium tank
- Connecting isolated regions to the hydrogen world
- Simultaneous receiving and discharging of LOHC (up to 1.000 l/min)
Contacts
Business Development