Heroes in the field
A full-system solution for local generation, storage and usage of renewable hydrogen
With Solhub, an innovative system solution for local production, storage and use of renewable hydrogen from solar energy, local municipalities, companies and industrial companies can benefit from a sustainable mobility and energy solution at their doorstep
Fronius has been researching and developing hydrogen solutions for around 20 years, becoming an innovation leader in the use of renewable hydrogen produced from solar energy. With its Solhub (renewable hydrogen customer plant), an innovative system solution for local production, storage and use of renewable hydrogen from solar energy, local municipalities, companies and industrial companies can now benefit from a sustainable mobility and energy solution at their doorstep.
As early as spring 2022, the first Solhub will be completed at the SAN Group’s headquarters in Lower Austria, a multinational corporation dedicated to animal, plant and human health as well as education and energy investments.
The Solhub will be fed with solar power from SAN’s own 1.5 MWp photovoltaic installation located on the rooftops of the company’s business park, generating the equivalent of 200 households worth of renewable electricity. The Solhub’s electrolyser will be able to produce up to 100kg of renewable hydrogen daily for immediate use in the company’s internal fleet and its partners – that’s the equivalent of 1,500km for a heavy-duty truck.
The turnkey-ready system also includes a hydrogen-powered emergency power supply to enable the company to be largely self-sufficient in meeting its energy needs. So, if required the stored hydrogen can be converted back into electricity using a fuel cell. Additionally, the Solhub is fully scalable and multipliable to increase its size and production capacity in accordance with customers’ own needs.
What about the cost for customers? Being produced from solar energy, the production cost of renewable hydrogen is also low, making the system economically attractive. SAN Group is working with an array of partners interested in running their own similar hubs and hence the facility also acts as a demonstrator for potential users wishing to transition their heavy-duty fleets to more sustainable solutions.
To meet the higher demand expected for such projects, Fronius is already looking into the next steps with the construction of the Fronius Hydrogen Competence Centre in Steinhaus, Upper Austria. This will enable the company to pool expertise and resources about hydrogen and continue its research, development, and production of hydrogen systems directly contributing to the European effort of becoming the global leader in renewable hydrogen technologies.
Image 1: © Fronius International GmbH
Image 2: © Visualisation: Janusch – the visual collective | SAN Group
