There are various ways to chemically bind hydrogen, making it easier to store and transport, such as in the form of various liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC), ammonia, or methanol. Additionally, hydrogen can be used in Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), which are sustainable aviation fuels made from non-fossil resources, or converted into synthetic natural gas (SNG).

The safety design of the facilities for these processes is often particularly challenging. It is important not only to consider the potential dangers of hydrogen but also those of the resulting products. Therefore, the explosion protection concept must be tailored individually for each application. In simple cases, non-flammable and low-volatile substances like ammonia or LOHCs such as benzyltoluene are produced. On the other hand, some "chemical hydrogen storage" methods like methanol are easily flammable.

Practically all hydrogen carriers also pose health and environmental risks and can cause severe poisoning, for example. A broad expertise is crucial for establishing safe facilities while considering relevant safety regulations to make the processes both safe and efficient.

Hydrogen plays a crucial role in the context of the energy transition by serving as an intermediate storage for excess green electrical energy. When needed, this energy can be recovered using fuel cells and fed back into the power grid. However, the process of reconverting hydrogen in fuel cell stacks poses potential dangers. The explosive gas must be safely supplied from pipelines or compressed gas or liquid gas storage tanks without escaping into the environment or igniting.

International explosion protection regulations of the IEC have already been developed to address these challenges. A distinction is made between stationary and portable fuel cell modules. Particularly high safety standards are required when back-conversion is not carried out by trained personnel in facilities of the energy industry but in private households or public areas. Facilities intended for increased use in these areas must be carefully planned and designed to meet the highest safety standards.

In regions abundant in wind and solar energy, green hydrogen can be produced in large quantities. Many countries are planning to import this hydrogen from such regions in the future - either through pipelines like former natural gas pipelines, in high-pressure containers via tankers, trucks, or possibly even by freight train as liquid hydrogen (LH₂) or converted into hydrogen carriers. For global goals, transporting LH₂ by ship appears to be the most cost-effective method. In local distribution, tanker trucks are expected to play an important role alongside pipelines in supplying gas stations.

It is crucial to develop carefully crafted safety concepts that not only consider technical requirements but also include employee training. They largely correspond to the requirements for LNG transport, which is already common practice today. The requirements for explosion protection are as high as ever when handling hydrogen. While initial norms and standards already exist, there is a need for reform to close regulatory gaps.

In addition to technical products and solutions, R. STAHL also offers consulting services to ensure the long-term and safe transport of hydrogen both legally and in terms of explosion protection.