Energy storage and the role of hydrogen
The great importance of energy storage for a renewable and economical energy supply is undisputed. Which storage technologies should be used for which applications and what role hydrogen plays for the energy transition in general and as an energy storage system in particular were discussed by experts from science and industry at the roundtable of the Energy Storage Forum Switzerland.
"The interplay of different technologies and seasonal energy storage is central to the energy transition," concludes Dr. Gianfranco Guidati, Deputy Director at the Energy Science Center of ETH Zurich, at the Forum Energy Storage Switzerland (FESS) roundtable. However, too much focus on Switzerland must be avoided at all costs: "An optimal net-zero strategy for Switzerland must also take into account the exchange of energy with our neighbors," says Guidati.
Thinking European, not just Swiss
Dr. Philipp Dietrich, CTO at H2 Energy AG, also made this position clear. He said that the energy system should not be thought of and planned in Swiss terms, but in European terms. And for energy transport, hydrogen will be a core element: "Hydrogen is a key technology for decarbonization." Already today, hydrogen is making a concrete contribution to climate protection in Switzerland as well, he said. For example, the 47 hydrogen trucks that H2 Energy AG is supporting together with partners have saved around 4,000 tons of CO2.
The importance of being connected to the European energy system was also emphasized by Daniela Decurtins, Director of the Swiss Gas Industry Association (VSG): "The unresolved institutional relationship with the EU is also creating uncertainty in the gas sector." She added that it is imperative for Switzerland to ensure that it remains connected to the European energy infrastructure. Furthermore, the gas industry - including hydrogen - is confronted with the challenge that the focus, especially of politics, is too much on the electricity sector. In general, gas supply in Switzerland is only weakly regulated, which also affects the promotion of renewable gases. There is also still no national hydrogen strategy. In these areas, the VSG director believes that politics is called upon.
Hydrogen in logistics
Another item on the agenda of the FESS Roundtable was the vivid explanations by Felix Felder, fleet manager of Galliker Transport AG, using a hydrogen-powered truck. Galliker Transport AG has hydrogen trucks in operation that run on green hydrogen and emit only water vapor, making them completely CO2-neutral on the road.
The roundtable was moderated by Thomas Nordmann in his function as FESS spokesman for the business community. Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Frank Krysiak from the University of Basel provided his expertise and questions for an exciting panel discussion. Krysiak is the FESS spokesperson for science.
Source: aeesuisse
