German hydrogen network runs into supply problems

The operator of hydrogen refuelling stations H2 Mobility grudgingly admits on its website that there are currently supply bottlenecks for hydrogen. On the live map on the H2 Mobility website, many filling stations are currently marked in red – and the respective locations are usually labelled ‘empty hydrogen tank’.

The report was accompanied by the following note: “Due to the resulting shortage in the market and the large distances to other sources, replacement deliveries are only possible to a limited extent or not at all for logistical and technical reasons.” Frank Fronzke, Managing Director and COO of H2 MOBILITY Deutschland, added: “We have a force majeure situation and are making every effort to find solutions at individual refuelling stations. Customers can find information on individual refuelling stations and their current availability on the H2.LIVE app and H2.LIVE website. We apologise for the situation.”

The website then goes on to say in more detail that ‘other suppliers will also be subjecting their equipment for filling and supplying hydrogen to further safety checks, which will lead to a temporary shortage of delivery vehicles.’

That sounds mysterious at first. But if you take a look at Leuna, it becomes clear what happened and why safety checks are now required nationwide in the hydrogen supply sector. Because on 26 August, a deflagration occurred on the railings of the gas manufacturer Linde in the chemical park in Saxony-Anhalt, resulting in a fire.

What happened? In the trailer car park on the Linde site, a hydrogen trailer leaked, presumably due to a leak, causing a deflagration. This was clearly audible in the immediate vicinity as a loud bang, which also damaged some nearby window panes. The subsequent fire on the trailer and its tyres produced a large cloud of smoke. Although the fire was quickly extinguished, the hydrogen tank on the trailer burned out completely.

According to a report in the ‘Leipziger Volkszeitung’ newspaper, there was a ‘leak’ in one of the tanks. ‘At the relevant time, no work or other activities were taking place on or near the trailer,’ Linde said. ‘The hydrogen trailer was parked in the designated and authorised parking space.’

Linde also announced that it will continue to work with the manufacturer of the trailer to find the exact cause of the leak and the deflagration. “An external cause can be ruled out,” the company wrote. Linde has also called in experts from the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) and TÜV Süd to analyse the incident in detail.

As an immediate measure, Linde has temporarily withdrawn the hydrogen trailers of the same series from service as a precautionary measure. Only when more reliable information about the cause of the damage is available will a decision be made about their further use. This is probably also the main reason why H2 refuelling stations cannot currently be supplied with hydrogen.

We already reported yesterday that diesel locomotives are currently running on the regional railway line RB 33 in Lower Saxony instead of hydrogen locomotives due to the bottleneck.

Update 25 October 2024

There are still hydrogen supply bottlenecks following an accident on the site of a chemical park in Leuna at the end of August and there is no end in sight to the problem. According to RBB, Berlin and Brandenburg are particularly badly affected. In the past few days, hydrogen has at least been available again at three or four petrol stations in the region, but bottlenecks must still be expected there too. In some places, the tanks have been empty for weeks.

“We have managed to build up an emergency supply for the current situation,” explained H2 Mobility press spokeswoman Daniela Dietz when asked by RBB. Currently, it is mainly petrol stations with a higher customer frequency that are being supplied.

h2.live, infraleuna.de (in German), rbb24.de (update in German)