Bosch Q&A: What does the Future Hold for Hydrogen?

From replacing natural gas to powering vehicles on the road, hydrogen is an abundant element that could take some of the emissions out of energy.

Founded in 1886, Bosch has seen a lot of change throughout its existence. 

While perhaps most well known for its household appliances, the company spans technology and engineering including hydrogen.

Steffen Hoffman is the Managing Director of Bosh UK&I, overseeing the entire business in the UK and Ireland, and Head of Europe Region 1 across Northern and Eastern Europe. 

He focuses on enhancing regional cooperation and exchange at management level across European countries.

Steffen shared his expertise with Sustainability Magazine.

What decarbonisation potential does hydrogen have?

Hydrogen has the potential to revolutionise industries across the UK. Whether it’s the fuel we use to transport our goods from A to B or powering offices and factories, this technology has the potential to cut up to 20% of global emissions. 

What is Bosch doing across the hydrogen value chain?

At Bosch, our work spans the entire hydrogen value chain, from production through to use.  In fact, few companies offer such a broad portfolio when it comes to hydrogen. 

At the same time, we’re a technology-neutral company, so we invest in the best solution for each challenge. That’s why we believe in hydrogen, yet we also develop technology for electric vehicles and for heat pumps. We use our strengths to develop our hydrogen competence. We use systems know-how and our industrial expertise to make hydrogen technology a reality, and we’re producing hydrogen goods in China, Germany and the US.

How can governments help to scale hydrogen?

The UK Government and the EU have committed to climate-neutrality goals, which means that the shortfall in our economy’s energy needs must come from sources other than fossil fuels. But at present, the regulatory framework does not provide sufficient support for a hydrogen market to develop in Europe before the middle of the next decade. 

Governments should focus on defining a challenging, but realistic long-term reduction path for CO₂ and avoid adjustments along the way as much as possible. On the other hand, they should refrain from any regulations that favour certain technologies at the expense of others, and should certainly avoid banning specific technologies.

We should treat all technology fairly and equally when it comes to regulations and any public funding. Policy makers must support industry by providing a conducive regulatory and funding framework.

Relevant investment on both the hydrogen supply and demand sides needs to be triggered as a matter of urgency. Such investments should not only come from the private sector. There is also an onus on government to play its part, for instance to arrange international energy partnerships. 

Scaling hydrogen to a level that can ensure our society reaps its maximum benefit will require a proactive partnership between government and business.

Incentivising the use of hydrogen will help to move things in the right direction, and such incentives should meet three conditions: they should reward the consumer instead of handing out fines to the manufacturers, they should support existing market trends instead of trying to create new ones, and they should be technology neutral. 

What incentives are there for consumers to choose hydrogen?

For those of us concerned about our carbon footprint, an increase in the use of hydrogen will help us sleep a little easier at night. When it comes to our day-to-day energy use there are so many reasons to choose hydrogen.

Hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines allow a faster transition to a hydrogen economy because existing technologies can be used. The hydrogen engine produces almost no local emissions and a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain generates zero local emissions. When compared to battery powered EVs, hydrogen vehicles can refuel faster. 

Still on the topic of mobility, there will be many petrol and diesel-engine cars on the road throughout the next decades, but once we can scale up hydrogen-based synthetic fuels, it will be a competitive option to decarbonise these cars and vans.  

As well as this, for homes or businesses, hydrogen can serve as an efficient energy storage medium alongside solar or wind. It could save households on their energy bills in the long run and play a big role in cutting the country’s overall carbon footprint. 

Where do you see hydrogen in the future?

Hydrogen has the potential to play a pivotal role in the energy mix of the future. This mix will mainly consist of local electricity generation from renewables and imported hydrogen-based products. 

On the demand side, various technologies will be in use that mirror that energy mix. Therefore, in the coming years, we can expect hydrogen to become a common feature in daily life.

It will power heavy-duty vehicles, decarbonise industrial processes and provide a method to store surplus renewable energy. It will also make it easier for countries and companies to meet net zero goals.

But it is only with political leadership, strong investment and cross-sector collaboration that we will harness hydrogen’s full potential. It is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe, and offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape our energy systems.

With the right support, from government and industry, hydrogen can underpin a cleaner and more sustainable future.

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