[{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022republish_modal_form\u0022\u003E\u003Cform class=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form ecl-form\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 action=\u0022\/en\/article\/modal\/9124\u0022 method=\u0022post\u0022 id=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 accept-charset=\u0022UTF-8\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHorizon articles can be republished for free under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EYou must give appropriate credit. We ask you to do this by:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 1) Using the original journalist\u0027s byline\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 2) Linking back to our original story\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 3) Using the following text in the footer: This article was originally published in \u003Ca href=\u0027#\u0027\u003EHorizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003ESee our full republication guidelines \u003Ca href=\u0027\/horizon-magazine\/republish-our-stories\u0027\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EHTML for this article, including the attribution and page view counter, is below:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textarea form-item-body-content js-form-item-body-content ecl-form-group ecl-form-group--text-area form-no-label ecl-u-mv-m\u0022\u003E\n \n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Ctextarea data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 aria-describedby=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 id=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 name=\u0022body_content\u0022 rows=\u00225\u0022 cols=\u002260\u0022 class=\u0022form-textarea ecl-text-area\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EEuropean innovators ignite demand for green hydrogen\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHans Marius Schuster comes from Germany\u2019s car capital Stuttgart (one of the country\u2019s most polluted cities). Michaela Kendall grew up in a chemical factory town in the north-west of England. Today they are on a mission: to increase the cost-competitiveness of clean hydrogen.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Almost everyone in the town worked at the factory. My father worked there too. But even if it was clearly a source of benefits, I realised there was tension between the chemical industry and the environmental degradation,\u2019 recalled Kendall. \u2018I couldn\u2019t understand why. I felt there should be green growth opportunity in clean tech. I strongly believe that environmental science is not just about protection. It\u2019s also about conservation of resource, and that means cost savings.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Schuster, his career in the automotive industry was the spark that led him on the path of hydrogen fuel cells. \u2018I started out as an IT engineer from Stuttgart, and was later based in Japan \u2013 that\u2019s how I learned about hydrogen fuel cells,\u2019 he said. \u2018That\u2019s how I developed my own idea to combine the two worlds: the digital world and the fuel cells and hydrogen world.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EIt feels like we are in the eye of the storm, it really does. It\u2019s absolutely the right time to be in fuel cells and hydrogen.\r\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EMichaela Kendall\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, Schuster is creating a digital platform he describes as the \u2018H2 Metaverse\u2019 to facilitate the standardisation of hydrogen fuel cell technologies via digital twins. And, Kendall, who started out as an environmental scientist, is demonstrating real-world benefits of successfully scaling up green hydrogen technologies like fuel cells.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProduced by splitting water using renewable energy, clean hydrogen (also referred to as green hydrogen) is at the forefront of science and sustainability. It\u2019s a sought-after energy as it does not create air pollution when used as a fuel (or carbon) at the point of use.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018It feels like we are in the eye of the storm, it really does,\u2019 said Kendall. \u2018It\u2019s absolutely the right time to be in fuel cells and hydrogen. It\u2019s actually a validation of what we thought so many years ago when we first started.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECounting 30 years in the hydrogen economy, Kendall is the CEO of Adelan (Birmingham, United Kingdom), which is one of the world\u2019s earliest fuel cell businesses. Her company is working towards commercialising a clean energy technology that Kendall co-invented in the early 1990s.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018It\u2019s definitely a fantastic space,\u2019 added Kendall. \u2018It was obvious and inevitable back then, and every day it becomes more obvious and more inevitable.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor hydrogen champions like Kendall, there is just as much excitement today as there was 20 years ago when the European Commission unveiled its ambitious \u2018hydrogen vision\u2019. Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission at the time, announced plans to reduce Europe\u2019s dependence on imported oil by transitioning from a fossil fuel-based to hydrogen-based fuel economy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cfigure role=\u0022group\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cimg alt=\u0022With investments booming, hydrogen could be the next contraption for both climate protection and the economy. \u00a9 Panchenko Vladimir, Shutterstock\u0022 data-entity-type=\u0022file\u0022 data-entity-uuid=\u00228bcec8bc-b976-4b83-8ced-d737acec5bbd\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/hm\/IMCEUpload\/h2_renewable_energy_shutterstock_1913675302.jpg\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022tw-italic tw-mb-4\u0022\u003EWith investments booming, hydrogen could be the next contraption for both climate protection and the economy. \u00a9 Panchenko Vladimir, Shutterstock\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\n\u003C\/figure\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrom pipe dream to reality\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHydrogen represents a modest fraction of the global and EU energy mix. But with investments booming, hydrogen could be the next contraption for both climate protection and the economy. This was made clear at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), which wrapped up in Glasgow, Scotland, last month.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Our job now is to scale the hydrogen economy from the ground up, and our main objectives are to improve the quality of our cities, improve the health status of people, and reduce emissions of carbon and move towards net zero,\u2019 said Kendall.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe possibilities seem endless for green hydrogen power. However, developing a clean hydrogen economy requires growing supply and demand in tandem. Success hinges on the potential to produce large quantities of electrolytic green hydrogen. Cost reductions and scale-up are just as important. And it\u2019s within reach.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018It feels like we may be at a sort of tipping point where hydrogen could really pick up,\u2019 she added. \u2018But I also think it\u2019s important to recognise that the current narrative is not quite right publicly. We need to start talking less about hydrogen and the fuel and more about the technologies and the hardware. For me, it\u2019s the technology that harnesses the fuel that is more important.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo secure a competitive advantage and limit global warming to 1.5C, the hydrogen energy revolution needs to integrate systems, develop skills, scale up projects and remove policy hurdles.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe EU has taken the lead. It is investing in new-generation electrolysers (the machines that split water into hydrogen and oxygen), making it the global leader in patents and publications on this technology. Establishing a framework for a global hydrogen economy is a top EU priority. It\u2019s also paving the way for innovative partnerships, coordination and standardisation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe race to successfully scale up\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile interest is skyrocketing in Europe and beyond, there\u2019s still a long way to go. Green hydrogen currently accounts for less than 1% of all hydrogen production. One of the biggest hurdles to overcome is scalability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We have the technology, we have the electrolysers and the fuel cells,\u2019 explained Schuster, noting that all you need to produce green hydrogen is water and a big electrolyser and renewable sources of electricity. Storage is another big issue to address. Currently, it\u2019s too expensive and inefficient for widespread use in vehicles, for instance.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Schuster, most of the infrastructure and rules required to support the transition need to be set and scaled up, as proposed by the European Commission in December 2021.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the founder and CEO of Arena Innovation, Schuster is using his new platform as Mission Innovation Champion to advance the energy and digital transition for the fuel cell and hydrogen domain. \u2018Before the pandemic, I used to travel a lot to China and I realised that people want to cooperate. For cooperation you need communication, but as long as the digital tools used are not interlinked the communication and the cooperation are inhibited,\u2019 he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EWe need to make a new digital platform and then work on it together. We do this all the time in the automotive industry.\r\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EHans Marius Schuster\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDigital sector coupling is key. \u2018We need to make a new digital platform and then work on it together. We do this all the time in the automotive industry,\u2019 explained Schuster. \u2018Cars are built in Germany with many parts that come from China. For the parts to fit, there is standardisation. This is crucial. So why not apply the same mechanism for the digital world?\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe next generation of data infrastructure has a name: Gaia-X. It\u2019s a project initiative by Europe for Europe and beyond. Initiated by Germany and France in 2019, Gaia-X is the result of a multitude of individual platforms that all follow a common standard. So, what emerges is not a cloud (like Amazon Web Services, Azure or the Google Cloud Platform), but a networked system that links many cloud services providers together. The ecosystem consists of three architectural layers that are interconnected: the data ecosystem, the infrastructure ecosystem and the federation services.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018This is how we are building up the so-called digital data infrastructure,\u2019 said Schuster. \u2018And the H2 Metaverse is a standardised data space for the green and low-carbon fuel cell and hydrogen domain based on the next generation of Gaia-X data infrastructure for an open, transparent and secure digital ecosystem where data and services can be made available, collected and shared in a trusted manner.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe big question now is whether green hydrogen will ever be able to compete with other energy sources, or with grey hydrogen produced from fossil fuels. While there\u2019s no silver bullet, for Schuster and Kendall, green hydrogen is certainly the end goal.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor now, the race is on. The following years will see epoch-making developments for the climate and for the future of a competitive hydrogen economy that meets all our expectations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018There\u2019s no real excuse to generate air pollution \u2013 we\u2019ve generated enough,\u2019 said Kendall. \u2018We\u2019ve known for decades how to avoid it. Now the question is how we do it at scale. For me, it\u2019s important to make things visible. It\u2019s important now to provide people the products, and to let them experience it. It\u2019s time to raise awareness and demonstrate beyond proof of concept.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018To this end, SMEs are developing highly efficient and sustainable machines for the fuel cell hydrogen industry, which relies on the use of artificial intelligence technologies that play a key role in the success of today\u2019s hydrogen economy,\u2019 concluded Schuster.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you liked this article, please consider sharing it on social media.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-bg-bluelightest tw-p-12 tw-my-12 tw--mx-16\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ch3 class=\u0022tw-font-sans tw-font-bold tw-text-blue tw-uppercase tw-text-lg tw-mb-8\u0022\u003EEurope\u2019s Mission Innovation Champions \u003C\/h3\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-inline-block tw-w-1\/6 tw-h-1 tw-bg-blue tw-mb-8\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.michampions.net\/#about\u0022\u003EMission Innovation Champions\u003C\/a\u003E programme was a global initiative of 22 countries and the European Commission, on behalf of the European Union (EU). Hans Marius Schuster (representing Germany) and Michaela Kendall (representing the United Kingdom), among the 21 Mission Innovation Champions, boast impressive track records of progressing creative new ideas that can drive the pace and scale of the clean energy revolution.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe aim of Mission Innovation is to use research, development and demonstration investments by governments and the ingenuity of business and finance to make clean energy solutions more affordable, accessible and attractive than their alternatives.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EOn 2 June, the Mission Innovation Clean Hydrogen Mission \u2013 a new global coalition to support the development of the clean hydrogen economy \u2013 was launched at the 6th Mission Innovation Ministerial meeting, hosted by Chile. The goal of the Clean Hydrogen Mission is to reduce the costs of clean hydrogen to the end user to USD 2\/kilogram by 2030. The EU is also in the lead for this Mission \u2013 to be achieved through both innovation and by delivering at least 100 large-scale integrated hydrogen \u2018valleys\u2019 worldwide.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe MI Clean Hydrogen Mission launched for an initial period of 5\u0026nbsp;years and, depending on progress, may be extended for a further 5\u0026nbsp;years to support the delivery of its key objectives by 2030.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMI is a key platform for governments and the private sector to work together to develop and demonstrate clean technologies across multiple sectors. It is fully consistent with the Breakthrough Agenda, announced by world leaders on 2 November at COP26.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/textarea\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003Cdiv id=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 class=\u0022ecl-help-block description\u0022\u003E\n Please copy the above code and embed it onto your website to republish.\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cinput autocomplete=\u0022off\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022form-srag1lvp8pzitoc0f29bbjse5va8ht54rdejcf8lmx0\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_build_id\u0022 value=\u0022form-sRAG1LvP8PzITOC0f29bbjsE5Va8HT54rDeJcF8lMx0\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Cinput data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_id\u0022 value=\u0022modal_form_example_modal_form\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003C\/form\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E","dialogOptions":{"width":"800","modal":true,"title":"Republish this content"}}]