Hydrogen Technology Expo, Europe Bremen 2022
Hydrogen has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. Over the past decades, in various instances it looked like a promising technology that would step out of the shadow of a niche market and move into the light of a wider consumer action. However, that final step never materialised, until now.
This time things are different. And anyone doubting that consideration should visit the Hydrogen Technology Expo organised by TransGlobal Events in either Europe or North America this year.
The Hydrogen Standard had the pleasure of visiting the European Hydrogen Technology Expo in Bremen in October and the overall feeling we got from the event was overwhelmingly positive.
The size of the event tripled compared to last year, consisting of 350 exhibitors, 217 speakers, and 6,500 visitors.
Attendees represented on average 16 different industries; hydrogen producers, fuel cell manufacturers, oil & gas, energy & utilities, heavy industry, steel, process industries, petrochemicals, industrial engineering, offshore energy, pipeline operators, automotive, rail, industrial vehicle, marine and aerospace.
Hydrogen’s versatility really came to the fore during this event with five tracks addressing the main stages of the value chain:
- Light Blue: Low carbon hydrogen production
- Dark Blue: systems integration & infrastructure
- Green: fuel cell design, development and manufacturing
- Red: E-fuels and hydrogen Propulsion
- Orange: carbon capture & storage
The event was collocated with the carbon capture technology conference & expo.
Companies from all over the value chain were represented with a particular focus on technological solutions and mainly all from Europe. They ranged from big established names offering well developed solutions to small players focussing their efforts one particular technical solution.
The conference was not only impressive in its size, but also the diversity of the various companies present, speaking and exhibiting. It became clear that the hydrogen value chain consists of many more intricate parts then the big stages alone. The main stages to reflect the backbone of the industry are green energy generation, through to electrolysis, energy transport, storage and eventual downstream use.
But each stage of its own can be considered as a multi cosmos of different companies contributing their bits to a bigger piece. Or making it possible that the more obvious machinery, such as an electrolyser or a fuel cell, can work.
The hydrogen supply chain is often criticised for its low efficiency from well to wheel. That has been mainly a function of the many steps present in the supply chain. The solutions compressor technologies, cooling, refuelling, tanks and many more often complex engineering marvels have in common is that they all tend to focus on improving efficiency in their respected area.
There was certainly a feeling of commonality. Everyone we spoke to, and we had a lot of conversations, were optimistic about the prospects of the industry, the pace of progress and the opportunity for new business in the years ahead.
Everyone also felt we are serving a common goal, which is making a contribution towards reducing society carbon footprint by 2050.
The event itself stretched over two main halls where the exhibitors were displayed. As usual stalls differed in size and attention-grabbing attributions. But what they all had in common is that they sparked curiosity when passing along, with many friendly faces keen to explain their latest technological advancement.
Another first was the presence of a carbon capture and storage expo along the hydrogen expo. Using blue hydrogen, by many considered a bridge technology until society has rolled out enough green hydrogen production capacity, it tied together both industries.
All in all we believe that everyone who visited, spoke and/or exhibited the event got multiple positive elements out of it: a stack of business cards and new contacts, various new business opportunities, and a wealth of new knowledge.
For 2023 TransGlobal has promised to make the event an even bigger happening and we at The Hydrogen Standard can not wait until the doors in Bremen open again, this time at the end of September.