Linde Hydrogen FuelTech – a team in motion

A Pangea SI Expert

Note – this article was originally published on gasworld.com

What did Praxair and Linde each bring to the hydrogen fuelling business that now exists in The Linde Group?
WP: Linde has an established pedigree in hydrogen mobility. We have installed more hydrogen filling stations for cars, buses, forklifts and just lately trains worldwide than any other player. We entered this market through expertise in high pressure technology that existed in one of our teams in Vienna. Praxair, on the other hand, have for many years been supplying hydrogen to filling stations in the US and other countries, but had not found the right technological entry point. So, the current organisation is a combination of our will and ambition with a legacy of Linde technology.

So, who was the champion for hydrogen within Linde?
WP: Without a doubt, Prof. Dr Wolfgang Reitzle was instrumental in driving Linde into that pole position. He came from the automotive industry and had an intuitive feel for how hydrogen mobility could, one day, help to transform our world. He was a true visionary who was willing to invest in this area. He wanted to demonstrate the potential of a concept that could be transformational for the energy sector, and indeed our industrial gases industry, in the long term.

And who will take on that leadership role in The Linde Group in the future?
WP: Our Board of Directors is very much aligned on the importance of being not only part of this journey but also a key driver. Hydrogen as energy carrier was and is one of the key strategic topics for Linde. Within a short period of time after the merger completion the Board has become a strong supporter of our activities and growth plans in the hydrogen mobility market. I must add here that the whole merger process is moving extremely well. The collaboration is first class and we are making new friends and learning from each other on daily basis.

You mentioned that Vienna is an important location for your team.
WP: Yes, indeed; let me explain. We have two important locations connected to our two key technologies, that both enjoy a high market reputation: the Cryo Pump and the Ionic Compressor. Cryo Pump stations convert low pressure liquid to compressed gaseous hydrogen, and they were invented in Pullach. Vienna is the home of the Ionic Compressor stations, which efficiently compress gaseous hydrogen to high pressures. In fact, they started their journey in automotive fuels with compressed natural gas (CNG) and then migrated into hydrogen. Talking about Vienna, this is also where our serial production and the headquarters of Linde Hydrogen FuelTech are located.

What are the skills that individuals need to work in the hydrogen mobility sector?
WP: We are a young team and I am certain that our purpose and passion drive us daily. We believe in what we are doing: hydrogen mobility has a genuine role in decarbonisation. But we can’t simply take off down the road, like a hydrogen powered car, without carefully looking where we are going! In addition to great ideas, Hydrogen energy needs a very pragmatic approach. The infrastructure must be developed, and the hydrogen gas needs to be affordable and readily available. Those are challenges that also require good old-fashioned engineering skills. We have a lot of bright and visionary people, but their foundation is a solid technical competence and a relentless focus on safety.

Yes, safety is a key topic for hydrogen. What measures does Linde take there?
WP: First and foremost, safety is the most important topic in everything we do at Linde and is paramount for our filling stations as well. We actively share our knowledge through safety and standards committees such as the EIGA Working Group 11, which coordinates safety practices for hydrogen energy. It includes automotive OEMs and leading industrial gases companies. We want hydrogen to be a safe and convenient fuel that is accepted by the masses and embraced by the politicians. A small incident involving any player in this space can dent the perception of hydrogen’s safety. So, we are very keen to raise the bar here for everybody.

Beyond EIGA, what other organisations do you participate in?
WP: Linde was a founding member of H2 Mobility in 2015. The goal of that joint venture is unconditionally to build 100 hydrogen fuelling stations in Germany which would represent a basic infrastructure and coverage. This should give OEMs, the public and commercial transport operators the confidence to invest in developing and purchasing hydrogen powered vehicles. We had the vision to break out of the chicken and egg problem and decided to ‘just do it’. We did not enter into this venture with a short-term business case: we set out to prove a concept in one country and that is what we will do.

– Speak to the leading industrial gas Expert who wrote this article 

Expert Bio:
With a career spanning 25+ years within the energy and chemical sectors, this Expert has held various international leadership roles for 10+ years, and received several European Business/Technology Innovation awards.

Key roles and experiences include:
Principal at a leading international Energy & Chemicals consulting company:
– Energy and chemicals sector consulting for private equity investors, corporate clients and small & medium enterprises worldwide.

Managing Director of own Consulting company:
– Industrial gases, hydrogen, LNG, carbon dioxide and specialty gases industry expert.
– Consultant on numerous M&A transactions.
– Advisor to international private equity funds; financial and consulting firms.
– Strategic growth consulting for companies at all levels in the industrial gases value chain
– Engaged in consulting projects regarding: Refrigerant Gases, Gas Cylinders and Valves, Digital transformation and e-commerce, Marketing strategy and sales effectiveness, Product development and commercialisation, Business strategy development and growth planning.

Global Head of Specialty Gases & Equipment at Linde Gas, a DAX30 Industrial Gases “blue-chip” company:
– Worked globally with local business teams in 40 countries spanning six continents.
– Led consistent profitable growth ahead of market, achievement of world leading market share and establishment of a high impact global brand.

Global Director, Specialty Gases at BOC Gases, a FTSE100 Industrial Gases “blue-chip” company.

Relevant Educational Background:
– Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering.

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