Hydrogen technology: Collaboration with Salzgitter Flachstahl

In the battle against climate change, the role of hydrogen – and green hydrogen in particular – is becoming ever more important. Whether for power supply, for transportation or for industry, hydrogen can help us to significantly reduce the amount of fossil fuels we burn. In Germany, the steel industry's share of greenhouse gas emissions is significant, at about 6 %, which is why this sector is also pursuing the transition to low-carbon and sustainably climate-neutral production. Steelmaker Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH, for example, is already producing green hydrogen using a high-temperature electrolyzer and a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer in the megawatt range, both run on renewable electricity. As part of a cooperation agreement, PTB will operate a measuring section in the plant starting in 2022. At flow rates of up to 1000 cubic meters of gaseous hydrogen per hour, under standardized conditions, and with pressures up to 16 bar, this measuring section will allow researchers to test instruments in continuous operation in a truly real- world environment. The aim is to assess the capabilities and properties of the measurement technologies already out there and to further develop our measurement techniques. This knowledge can benefit not only the steel industry but all future hydrogen applications as well, and it can help us to harness hydrogen's climate protection potential on a large scale.