Hydrogen and industry

Besides being a viable alternative energy source, hydrogen is also a raw material with numerous industrial applications. It is used in the production of ammonia, which is required for making fertilizer and plastics. Oil refineries also use hydrogen to remove sulphur from crude oil (hydrotreating) and to convert heavier hydrocarbons into lighter hydrocarbons (hydrocracking) and so obtain more gasoline from crude oil.

From grey to green hydrogen

Dutch industry generates 800,000 tonnes of hydrogen annually using the Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) method. Natural gas is converted into hydrogen at high temperatures. The process to produce this so-called grey hydrogen is not ideal as seven million tonnes of carbon dioxide are emitted every year. These emissions can be reduced significantly by switching to hydrogen generated by electrolysis.

Natural gas replacement

In the chemical industry, in blast furnaces and in refineries, many processes require a high temperature for the required reactions to take place. At present, such temperatures are achieved by the combustion of natural gas. Hydrogen also burns at a high temperature and is a viable alternative in applications requiring a temperature of more than 250°C. 

Energy buffering

The sustainable generation of energy from renewable sources is not at a constant rate so supply and demand are not always in balance. Power to Gas (P2G) systems make it possible to store excess energy. For seasonal storage, energy buffering is more useful than battery storage (more suited to short term storage). The hydrogen produced in a P2G system could be used in a controllable gas plant to generate energy as needed.

  • Permeation and chemical compatibility

    Kiwa is your partner for assessing the chemical compatibility and material performance of applied materials and the corresponding tests like permeation, immersion or rapid gas decompression tests. Testing material samples, pipes, components or even complete systems is possible.
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  • Hydrogen has the future: new approval requirement AR 214

    Hydrogen is an interesting substitute to natural gas. Especially since research demonstrates that existing natural gas infrastructures can be made suitable for the distribution of hydrogen relatively easily. Kiwa anticipates with a new approval requirement (AR) 214 "Suitability for hydrogen gas".
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  • Hydrogen components testing and certification

    Kiwa can test and certify components of automotive vehicles using hydrogen in the propulsion system, according the Directive No. 79/2009 (Dir. 79/2009), HGV standards, CSA standards and ECE R134.
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