Decentralized Hydrogen to Distribution Gas Networks through Ammonia

premium account

Recording of Thursday, June 20, 2024 | The smarter E Europe | Exhibition Program | Language: English | Duration: 16:36 .

Decentralized Hydrogen Production and Ammonia Transport: A Vision for Europe's Energy Future

Hans-Peter Schmidt, a veteran in the hydrogen sector with over 20 years of experience at WS Reformer, elaborates on the importance of decentralized hydrogen production. He emphasizes that Europe needs to import renewable energy due to insufficient local production and highlights hydrogen as a key player in this transition. Various methods for transporting and liquefying hydrogen are discussed, including ammonia, methanol, liquefied hydrogen at low temperatures, and liquid organic carriers. Schmidt focuses particularly on using ammonia for decentralized applications. He contrasts large centralized reformer plants with smaller containerized solutions which convert ammonia into hydrogen locally. Although these small-scale operations have lower efficiency compared to large plants, they offer flexibility by cracking or converting ammonia directly at the point of use. He also discusses transportation logistics involving different vessel sizes designed for rail or road transport. These setups facilitate efficient and timely delivery of ammonia from distribution centers to end-users. Addressing potential applications such as substituting natural gas with combined heat power (CHP) systems and utilizing fuel cells is highlighted as part of his vision towards decarbonizing mobility sectors through new technologies like solid oxide fuel cells integrated with ammonia.

Automated summarization by AI Conver

Dr.-Ing. Hans-Peter Schmid
Managing Director
WS Reformer GmbH

It is foreseeable, hydrogen and its derivatives will be shipped to Europe in the years to come and prompt the path of the energy carrier. What form will play what role amongst to option on the table? It still looks like an open race.

Further Talks of this session:

Speaker

Olivier Bucheli
President
European Electrolyser & Fuel Cell Forum
Switzerland

To Talk

Speaker

Tobias Puklavec
CTO
Green Energy Park Global B. V.
Germany

To Talk

Speaker

Ralf Ott
Head of Policy and Regulation
Hydrogenious Lohc Technologies GmbH
Germany

To Talk

Speaker

Gunnar Assmann
Projekt Lead Hydrogen Storage
Storengy Deutschland GmbH
Germany

To Talk

Speaker

Alexander Voigt
CEO
HH2E
Germany

To Talk

Further Content
Webinar Collection
Challenges of Low-Cost Hydrogen Production

May 12, 2026

free account

Free webinar on low-cost hydrogen production, covering costs, market trends and global developments.

Publications
European Battery Market Outlook 2026-2030

June 24, 2026

European Battery Market Outlook 2026-2030: How utility-scale storage drives energy sovereignty and grid flexibility despite looming target gaps.

The smarter E Europe Conferences 2026
Panel Discussion of the Session: Turning Industrial and Commercial Demand Side Flexibility into Value

Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 02:30 pm

The smarter E Europe Conferences 2026 | Conference Program

premium account

Industrial and commercial flexibility is no longer experimental - it is becoming a core part of network operation and market participation. Across Europe, DSOs, transmission system operators (TSOs), aggregators and retailers are moving from isolated pilots to coordinated programs that avoid grid upgrades and deliver real capacity and financial value for all participants.This session focuses on the operational integration of C&I flexibility into routine grid workflows through dispatch, settlement, verification and commercial models. It highlights how flexibility is embedded in daily operations: from automated dispatch and verification tools to new contractual models that reward large energy users for adapting consumption. You will gain insight into replicable approaches for scaling flex portfolios, integrating them into control-room workflows and ensuring fair value-sharing across utilities, service providers and industrial consumers.

Thomas Raffeiner and Petrouschka Werther
What EV Acceleration Means for the Grid

The smarter E Podcast Episode 260 | Language: English

July 9, 2026

Cars as batteries on wheels: Thomas Raffeiner and Petrouschka Werther discuss how V2G and smart charging turn EVs into critical grid assets.

Rutger Schlatmann and Angelika Harter
Perovskites: The Race for the Future of PV?

The smarter E Podcast Episode 258 | Language: English

June 25, 2026

HZB researchers explore perovskite tandem solar cells, efficiency gains, and the challenges of bringing the technology to market.

You are using an outdated browser

The website cannot be viewed in this browser. Please open the website in an up-to-date browser such as Edge, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.