Guests from Ecuador and Oman at the ZBT

Delegations from Ecuador and Oman visited the ZBT to find out about current developments in hydrogen technologies. The discussions focused primarily on electrolysis technologies and transportation issues relating to green hydrogen.

In the future, we will need huge quantities of hydrogen, even if not a single car were to run on fuel cell electricity. We will have to import a large part of it. It is therefore important to establish contacts with colleagues and interested parties from all over the world at an early stage in order to have a large network at our disposal in the future.

The delegation from Ecuador was interested in the entire chain from the production of hydrogen to its own use and export. The South American country has a lot of hydropower that could be used to produce green hydrogen. However, the global demand for electrolysers is currently so high that a country like Ecuador would have to join the back of the queue. The idea of producing the technology itself in Ecuador was therefore discussed.

Die Delegation aus Ecuador interessierte sich für die gesamte Kette von der Produktion von Wasserstoff über die eigene Anwendung bis zum Export. Das südamerikanische Land verfügt über viel Wasserkraft, mit der sich grüner Wasserstoff produzieren ließe. Der Bedarf an Elektrolyseuren sei derzeit weltweit aber so hoch, dass sich ein Land wie Ecuador recht weit hinten in der Warteschlange einreihen müsste. Diskutiert wurde deshalb über die Idee, auch die Technologie selbst in Ecuador herzustellen.

Lebhaft diskutiert wurde auch über die Frage, woher die Investitionen in Schiffe für den Ammoniak-Transport und in die nötige Infrastruktur kommen könne. Um in Transportkapazitäten investieren zu können brauche es langfristige Verträge mit Abnehmern, gab ein ecuadorianischer Logistikunternehmer zu bedenken, sonst lohne sich ein Termin bei der Bank nicht.

There was also a lively discussion about where the investments in ships for ammonia transportation and the necessary infrastructure could come from. One Ecuadorian logistics entrepreneur pointed out that long-term contracts with customers were needed in order to invest in transport capacities, otherwise it would not be worth making an appointment with the bank.

The delegation from Oman also discussed transportation issues: should green hydrogen be transported in liquid or gaseous form, ammonia or methane? There are many ways to transport hydrogen, said one delegation participant, and there is no need to rush into a decision yet, but it is necessary to make forecasts.

Both delegations also showed great interest in the OpenFuelCell project, a functional fuel cell that can be produced inexpensively and with simple means for teaching purposes by educational institutions and hobbyists all over the world.

Image Collection

Delegations from Ecuador and Oman learn about electrolysis technology and hydrogen infrastructure at the ZBT.

ZBT Managing Director Peter Beckhaus introduces the institute and discusses current issues with the guests.

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