With environmental awareness and the transition to zero emissions more in mind than ever, the industry is undergoing a gradual, albeit certain, transition from fossil fuels to electric or renewable energy sources, particularly in mobility. As electric vehicles have become more than just an option for future mobility, hydrogen also presents itself as a solid option, especially if concerns surrounding its production are resolved.
Technically speaking, the only emissions coming out of hydrogen vehicles are hot air and water vapor. Thus, hydrogen vehicles, like electric vehicles, are in fact considered zero emissions. The problem arises in the production of hydrogen fuel, which can be very energy intensive and, as such, can sometimes require the use of non-renewable energy sources. This is where Bosch comes in, as the company is now investing heavily in hydrogen infrastructure, with the aim of establishing a climate-neutral hydrogen production system.
Rolf Najork, member of the board of directors of Bosch, said: “On the path to a climate-neutral future, we must enable energy-intensive industries to transition to renewable energy. Hydrogen will be a key element of security of supply. » The company has invested a substantial €1 billion in hydrogen infrastructure, with Bosch hoping that hydrogen fuel will be a solid alternative to battery power, which in itself presents some glaring problems, in particularly with regard to waste.
To do this, the company plans to diversify into a number of industries by creating fuel cells for mobile and stationary systems, installing compressors in hydrogen fueling stations, and creating its own hydrogen without carbon. The company has chosen to use electrolyzed green hydrogen for production and mobility at its Bosch Industry 4.0 factory in Homburg, Saarland. Since 90% of the organization's overall energy consumption depends on manufacturing alone, this is a way for the company to minimize its carbon output.
The construction of gas stations is another crucial part of the Bosch initiative. Bosch plans to test a system to compress hydrogen, store it, and then distribute the fuel to gas stations in collaboration with Maximator Hydrogen. By 2030, it is expected that at least 4 hydrogen fueling stations will be installed worldwide.
