Demand for green hydrogen is growing appreciably. The search for ingenious solutions for the production, storage and transport of this energy carrier is also picking up pace. Research and development departments at voestalpine are exploring where there is a need for development, researching new solutions and adapting existing ones.

Hydrogen transport and storage-at voestalpine, several Group companies are developing materials and combinations of materials for these tasks. Building on its expertise in the sour gas sector, the Group already has offerings for the hydrogen industry. The research and development departments of multiple Group companies are developing further solutions for this forward-looking industry.

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voestalpine in the hydrogen sector

Research into hydrogen-powered mobility

Fuel cell vehicles, the direct mobility solution that uses energy generated from hydrogen, are a climate-friendly offering from the automotive industry. And since weight makes a difference in this segment, manufacturers rely on lightweight solutions from voestalpine.

"Particularly in the field of mobile storage applications, we are striking out in promising directions in collaboration with a premium OEM in the automotive industry."Roland E., Sales Director of voestalpine Rotec GmbH

The ongoing projects build on voestalpine Rotec GmbH's expertise in drawn tubes and their use for hydrogen storage.

Here, too, some of the Group company's R&D departments are already developing high-strength steel concepts for car and truck tanks. Unlike high-pressure storage tanks made of composites with carbon fibers, steel tanks can be completely recycled.

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Hydrogen - an energy source of the future

Proven safety for hydrogen

voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co KG is one of the companies in the Group that is working tirelessly on hydrogen transport solutions. To enhance its range of seamless pipes, the researchers are focusing on hydrogen-resistant pipe connections, for example.

H2-related research topics at voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co KG:

  • Testing the hydrogen tightness of pipe threads
  • Steel-based hydrogen containers for rail operation ("H2RailTube" FFG project)
  • Long-term use in hydrogen storage facilities (Underground Sun Storage 2030 project)
voestalpine creates connections

In a collaboration with the Montanuniversität Leoben (MUL), the researchers at voestalpine Böhler Welding Austria GmbH are deepening their knowledge of welding consumables and their behavior under pressurized hydrogen conditions with constant load tests, among other things. "Here, corresponding welded joints, loaded to yield strength levels, must be able to withstand four weeks at the conditions found in a hydrogen storage tank without breaking," said Thomas W., Vice President Global R&D Joining. Another research focus is the behavior of welds under the particularly challenging conditions of liquefied hydrogen storage.

"The right materials and products are needed for the hydrogen infrastructure as well as for the transport and storage of hydrogen. We are exploring where there is a need for development and are able to build on existing solutions, such as from the sour gas sector."Franz A., Head of Research and Development/Innovation, voestalpine AG

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voestalpine AG published this content on 13 September 2022 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 13 September 2022 12:19:01 UTC.