Hydrogen high-pressure storage for research (German Aerospace Center DLR)
In Cologne, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is conducting research into gases for energy technology – including hydrogen. Various gases can be mixed in high-pressure mixing plants, enabling internal and external partners from the aerospace and energy technology sectors to conduct experiments under realistic conditions. Bilfinger supported DLR in the development of the 300 bar hydrogen high-pressure storage tanks. Bilfinger carried out feasibility studies, was responsible for planning, engineering for the authorities, procurement of materials and construction of the storage facilities.
Pilot plant HyStock (Gasunie)
The 1 MW HyStock pilot plant converts green energy into hydrogen. Gasunie's first power-to-gas plant in the Netherlands is facilitating further development of the hydrogen market and is researching new technologies. Bilfinger contributed system integration services for construction of the plant and was responsible for the high-voltage power supply of the proton exchange unit. The company was also responsible for the planning and laying of the piping systems as well as the hydrogen pipelines and pipe trailers.
Mobile with hydrogen (Air Liquide)
Air Liquide built one of the first publicly accessible hydrogen filling stations in the Netherlands near Rotterdam. The station is directly connected to Air Liquide's European hydrogen pipeline network. Bilfinger assumed responsibility for engineering, coordinated the approval of the station with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment and was responsible for the construction.
Test centre for gas turbines (Siemens)
Siemens maintains a burner test center for gas turbines near Berlin. The purpose of the center is to research combustion processes under realistic operating conditions. Siemens needed a cryogenic energy storage system for hydrogen, among other things, and Bilfinger was responsible for investment calculation, pre-basic engineering and authority engineering.
Pilot plant for storing green electricity (Uniper)
In Falkenhagen, international energy company Uniper operates a pilot plant for the storage and transmission of wind power. The plant uses electrolysis to produce green hydrogen, that was fed directly into the gas grid in the first years of the pilot plant. Today, the hydrogen is mixed with carbon dioxide from a bio-ethanol plant and converted into methane – a synthetic natural gas. Bilfinger supported construction of the power-to-gas plant and supplied the control system along with data storage. Bilfinger was also responsible for the pipeline leakage monitoring system and remote control of the dispatching.
Underground storage of hydrogen/natural gas mixture
Bilfinger is conducting a feasibility study on the production of hydrogen for a Slovakian company with expertise in the development of natural gas storage facilities. The hydrogen is fed into natural gas and stored underground. In the process, a hydrogen feed-in to natural gas of up to 15 percent can be achieved. The study started in November 2020 and the results will be presented to the client in January 2021.
The customer will build a small scale station to test the production of hydrogen using electrolyzers as well as to test the behavior of the mixture in underground storage and mixture withdrawal for future larger scale projects.
One of the key benefits of using green (or low-carbon) hydrogen blended into natural gas is a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. It also improves the combustion properties of the natural gas.
Hydrogen storage above and below ground
Bilfinger is developing a concept study for both the underground and above-ground storage of hydrogen for a major storage operator in the German and European natural gas market.
Bilfinger's services include preparation of a concept for construction of an above-ground hydrogen plant on the site of the existing gas storage facility. From that site, it should be possible to supply a city with hydrogen in the future.
The study will look at the kinds of installations that are necessary for hydrogen storage and transport. A viable plant concept will be developed and will serve as the basis for further design, implementation and approval planning. The concept and study are part of a long-term hydrogen project. The objective of the project is the establishment of climate-neutral hydrogen in industry, energy supply and transport.
