MAN Energy Solutions Announces Large-Scale Hydrogen Project

MAN Energy Solutions, Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies and Frames Group B.V. have signed a cooperation agreement to jointly design and build large scale hydrogen storage systems based on the liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) technology.

Developed by Hydrogenious, the LOHC technology uses heat transfer oil as a carrier for hydrogen, allowing it to be stored under ambient conditions. The process also triples the amount of hydrogen that can be transported compared to standard pressurized containers, the companies said. The LOHC technology is designed to offer a safe and efficient solution for storing and distributing hydrogen on a large scale.

The new partners are ready to meet the needs for the future hydrogen market in respect to bulk hydrogen storage and transportation. As a first step, the companies have developed systems with hydrogen capacities of 5 and 12 tons per day. Such large hydrogen processing capacities will be crucial for the decarbonization of Europe’s energy needs.

“We strongly believe that the global goal to build a climate-neutral economy largely depends on the future use of green hydrogen and other gases produced from renewable energy”, said Dr. Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Energy Solutions. “Hydrogen will play a crucial role in the decarbonization of those sectors that cannot be electrified directly. The LOHC technology is a game-changing and powerful innovation by a great company and this partnership is an important step to further build our profile with regards to a future hydrogen economy.”

Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies specializes in the development of the LOHC technology. Frames Group B.V. designs and builds solutions for renewable energy and oil and gas processing equipment, and will be responsible for the overall realization of the hydrogenation plant. MAN ES completes the consortium with its experience in design and fabrication of reactor systems for chemical and petrochemical applications. The company will deliver the reactor and related steam generator equipment to the projects.

“We see an increased demand for green fuels and are investing in the development of hydrogen solutions, like electrolyzers and hydrogen storage. Hydrogen is the vital link in the energy transition,” said Frans Roozendaal, CEO at Frames. “At Frames, we convert process and control concepts into skid-mounted solutions. Although the oil & gas industry has historically been the target market, we have also seen a strong expansion of our renewables activities.”

“We are very satisfied to have gained such important players from the plant engineering sector for this cooperation,” said Daniel Teichmann, CEO of Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies. “Since our technology uses the existing infrastructure for conventional fuels, it makes import and transportation of large amounts of green hydrogen, for example from Scandinavian wind parks to Central Europe, feasible. This partnership will contribute to creating a simple and efficient transport network for green energy at European and global level.”

MAN Energy Solution said the partnership is part of the company’s strategic and technological transformation aimed to expand its business with sustainable technologies and solutions such that they become its main source of revenue by 2030. This realignment includes the expansion of the company’s product range to include hybrid, storage and digital service technologies. The production of synthetic fuels and gases from renewable energy via the Power-to-X technology plays a crucial role in MAN’s concept for the decarbonization of global maritime logistics.

In March the company had acquired 40 %of the shares of the electrolysis technology company H-TEC Systems, which develops and produces stacks and electrolyzers for manufacturing hydrogen with electricity.