The end of the year and the beginning of a new one is undeniably the best time for a little recap. A lot was going on at SES Hydrogen Energy in 2023. Likewise, the hydrogen market in Europe and around the world. All driven by strengthened regulations and large financial instruments. We invite you to read our summary of 2023!
Over the past twelve months we have brought you the most important news and events from the world of H2, and today we summarize the most remarkable ones.
We present a list of TOP 12 articles in the past 12 months of 2023
We started the year with a little movie review. Yes, you read that right. However, our focus was not on the plot, but on the not-so-best and not-quite-true portrayal of hydrogen in Netflix’s detective hit “Glass Onion” where it undeniably played a significant role.
Frequently asked questions about hydrogen #1
Frequently asked questions about hydrogen #2
Frequently asked questions about hydrogen #3
What can we use hydrogen for? Is it always pure? What are the benefits of hydrogen? Does its use have drawbacks? How and where is it produced? These are just some of the many questions currently circulating. We have tried to answer these and other questions over the past year to dispel doubts and bring knowledge about green fuel, which is expected to play a crucial role in the energy transition.
A major development for hydrogen producers in 2023 was the announcement of the date of the first auction of €800 million under the European Hydrogen Bank. This officially kicked off a few months later – in November. We decided to look at how the premium announced at that time, at an example level of €3 per kilogram of hydrogen produced, would have reduced its price.
We also reminded you that the deadline for the entry into force of the MCP Directive, which concerns the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from medium-sized combustion plants, i.e. plants with a rated thermal power between 1 MW and 50 MW, is inexorably approaching. The directive was introduced into Polish legislation in 2018, and for facilities with a capacity greater than 5 MW, it requires adjustment to the new standards by January 1, 2025.
Energy efficiency directive adopted
Another important regulatory highlight was the conclusion of negotiations on new energy efficiency legislation in July 2023. The reinforced goal is to reduce the EU’s final energy consumption by 11.7% by 2030. The regulations also focus on local heating and cooling plans and the creation of zero-emission heating and cooling networks.
The energy efficiency of buildings. How will the EPBD affect the building sector?
The building sector is also important for achieving the EU’s decarbonization and climate goals. Last March, the European Parliament adopted amendments to revise the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), tightening the targets and accelerating deadlines for achieving them. A few months later, in July, inter-institutional agreements were completed, and we are now waiting for the final wording of the provisions. If left unchanged, owners of residential and non-residential buildings will be required to comply as early as the next four years.
SES Hydrogen Energy conducted functional tests of the first 0.5 MW hydrogen-oxygen boiler in Poland
The summary certainly could not miss a milestone in the development of our technologies. In August, we were able to share the positive news that we had conducted functional tests of a 0.5 MW hydrogen-oxygen boiler prototype under conditions replicating operation at an actual plant. This was an important step for us in the development of the technology, which is already an innovation on the market thanks to the use of hydrogen and pure oxygen in the combustion process, which guarantees the elimination of COx, SOx, NOx, and flue gas emissions.
The 6th edition of the PCHET conference with the participation of SES Hydrogen Energy
For the first time, we presented a hydrogen boiler at one of the largest and oldest conferences dedicated to hydrogen, technologies, and areas of application of the new fuel in prospective areas of the Polish economy – the Polish Hydrogen Technology Conference PCHET 2023. During the two-day event, our Team had the opportunity to talk more about the technology under development on the example of the presented test unit.
A key event for us was the official signing of a contract for the project of Poland’s first hydrogen boiler plant for heating residential buildings. The agreement is the aftermath of a letter of intent signed with Śrem TBS in 2022 and brings to fruition plans to build a diversified district heating system that will provide clean heat to the planned 195 apartments on Farna Street in Śrem.
The year for hydrogen ended with news of a preliminary agreement by the EU Council and Parliament on a directive establishing common rules for gas and hydrogen markets in Europe. Its goal is to facilitate the penetration of renewable, low-carbon gases and hydrogen into the European energy system.
It has been an intense year for us and the hydrogen market. We are happy to have shared this journey with our readers and believe that the year 2024 will bring even more positive news. We hope you will be with us this year as well. Stay tuned!
