How MAN Energy Solutions is using hydrogen technologies to support decarbonization of industry
In addition to electrolysers from the subsidiary H-TEC SYSTEMS (renamed “Quest One” starting October 1, 2024), MAN Energy Solutions also provides technologies for the production and use of hydrogen-based green energy sources such as e-methanol, e-methane, or ammonia. These all enable CO2 emissions to be reduced very quickly.
Steam turbines, diesel engines, compressors, H2-ready engines: MAN Energy Solutions has been developing technologies that have shaped the transformation of industry for over 250 years. MAN is now using its expertise and experience to overcome its ‘undoubtedly greatest challenge to date’, according to the company: the decarbonization of industry and society.
At the heart of these efforts, among other things, are technologies for the hydrogen economy. By 2030 alone, MAN Energy Solutions is investing EUR 500 million in the further development and production of electrolysers from its subsidiary H-TEC SYSTEMS, which will change its name to “Quest One” as of October 1, 2024. A significant portion of this sum went toward the construction of a state-of-the-art production facility for PEM electrolysis stacks, a new Gigahub in Hamburg.
“The Gigahub allows us to serve a large part of the predicted market and we are thus clearly leading the way, since the market for green hydrogen is still modest at present,” says Ulrich Vögtle, Vice-President at MAN Energy Solutions. “But this is the only way we can solve the chicken-and-egg problem – we simply have to make a start.”
The fact that investment decisions have only been made for a small number of the announced projects is mainly due to the fact that this energy source is still very expensive. That’s why Vögtle welcomes the fact that the German government is now using contracts for difference to support industrial companies that want to use green hydrogen in their processes. “This instrument is also important because it incentivizes the construction of large-scale plants. And these are what the industry needs to build up experience for the essential step of scaling into the multi-megawatt or even gigawatt range.” H2 Global’s successful first auction has already shown that the instrument of contracts for difference works.
Not just using hydrogen directly
However, Vögtle warns that decarbonization should not be limited to the direct use of hydrogen. Instead, it is also necessary to use hydrogen derivatives such as ammonia, methanol or synthetic methane. “These energy sources have the advantage that the existing infrastructure, from the grids and storage facilities to the systems already invested in, can continue to be used,” Vögtle explains. This reduces the economic costs of decarbonization. “And that means faster success in reducing CO2, since we can use the green fuels immediately.”
MAN already offers products and solutions for many areas of the hydrogen ecosystem: In addition to electrolysers, these include systems for producing methane and methanol; marine and power plant engines designed for hydrogen derivatives such as e-methane, methanol, and ammonia; and compressors that help to capture the CO2 required for green fuels from biogas or industrial plants. And last but not least, MAN offers engines that are already H2-ready and can be converted to pure hydrogen operation at a later date.
MAN blog post, Ulrich Vögtle
