Pumps for the Hydrogen Economy

No pumps, no hydrogen! The hydrogen economy is the path that energy suppliers and industry must take to make the entire economy sustainable and promote the transition to a decarbonized future. This requires suitable pumping systems at all links in the hydrogen value chain.

Pumps play a crucial role in the hydrogen economy as they support various aspects of hydrogen production, storage, distribution and use. Their influence can already be seen in the generation of electricity from renewable sources – a basic prerequisite for producing green hydrogen by means of electrolysis, which can be used sustainably and without harmful effects on the environment. Pumps are used in solar energy and wind power as well as in biogas plants and other types of power stations.

Reliable conveying along the value chain

In hydrogen production, pumps must be used to convey raw materials such as water or methanol to the electrolysis cells or reformers in which the hydrogen is produced. These pumps are necessary to ensure the continuous flow of materials.

For storage and transportation, hydrogen is often compressed to increase storage and transportation efficiency. Compression pumps are used to compress the hydrogen from lower to higher pressures before it is stored or transported in tanks or pipelines. In hydrogen storage – whether in tanks or in the form of metal hydrides – pumps are required to deliver the hydrogen into the storage facility and to extract it again when required.

Pumps are also used in distribution to transport hydrogen from production sites to distribution facilities such as filling stations or industrial plants. This can take the form of tanker trucks or pipelines. In hydrogen filling stations, pumps are increasingly needed to transport the hydrogen from the storage tanks to the vehicles.

Hydrogen is even used in fuel cells: There they are used to generate electricity and heat in order to pump hydrogen into the fuel cell and remove the reaction product, usually water.

You can find out more about pumps in hydrogen production here.

The right pumps for hydrogen applications

With their application-specific expertise and in-depth knowledge of the requirements for a wide range of pumping systems, the member companies of the Star Pump Alliance support users in all areas of the hydrogen value chain. From hydropower plants, electrolysers and steam reformers to distribution networks and hydrogen filling stations: The experts will find the right pump for every application.

Operators who want to enter the hydrogen economy now can obtain a comprehensive portfolio of industrial pumps of all types from the numerous member companies of the Star Pump Alliance – a non-binding inquiry is sufficient. Alternatively, the free PUMPselector provides quick results with just a few clicks.