Bosch commissions 2.5 MW hydrogen electrolyzer at its Bamberg plant in Germany – Energies Media

Report on Bosch’s Green Hydrogen Initiative and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

In response to global commitments to combat climate change, as reaffirmed at the G20 Summit, Bosch has commissioned a 2.5 MW hydrogen electrolyzer at its Bamberg facility in Germany. This initiative represents a significant advancement in clean energy technology, directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The project underscores Germany’s role as a leader in the renewable energy transition and supports the European Union’s broader climate objectives.

Advancing SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

The Bosch project is a direct contribution to increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix, a key target of SDG 7. By utilizing renewable energy to produce green hydrogen, the initiative promotes a sustainable and modern energy source.

Project Specifications and Technological Contribution

• Facility: A 2.5 MW hydrogen electrolyzer has been commissioned at the Bosch facility in Bamberg, Germany.
• Core Technology: The system is powered by two Bosch Hybrion PEM (Proton-Exchange Membrane) electrolysis stacks, each providing 1.25 MW of power.
• Energy Source: The electrolyzer uses electricity from renewable sources to split water into green hydrogen and oxygen, ensuring a carbon-neutral production process.
• Production Output: The facility is capable of producing over one metric ton of hydrogen daily. This output is sufficient to power an electric 40-ton truck equipped with a Bosch fuel-cell module for approximately 14,000 kilometers.

Fostering SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Bosch’s investment in hydrogen technology exemplifies the principles of SDG 9 by promoting sustainable industrialization, fostering innovation, and building resilient infrastructure for a new energy era.

Innovation in Clean Technology

1. Fuel-Cell Power Modules: Bosch commenced large-scale production of its fuel-cell power modules in Stuttgart in mid-2023. The nomination of this technology for the German President’s Future Prize highlights its innovative significance.
2. Infrastructure Development: The electrolyzer was constructed in Germany by FEST, showcasing local industrial capability in building clean energy infrastructure.
3. Research and Development: To ensure the system’s real-world viability and durability, Bosch has established a second test station for its Hybrion PEM electrolysis stacks at the Bamberg site.

Supporting SDG 13: Climate Action and Regional Commitments

The project is a tangible action against climate change, aligning with national and regional strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and diversify energy production away from fossil fuels.

National and European Context

• Germany’s Renewable Energy Leadership: The initiative is situated within Germany’s progressive energy policy, where over 50% of electricity is already generated from renewable sources. This project further solidifies the nation’s commitment to SDG 13.
• European Green Energy Trend: The development is consistent with a broader European movement towards hydrogen, evidenced by projects such as Lhyfe’s green hydrogen facility in Germany and Greece’s approval for a solar-powered hydrogen complex.
• Alignment with EU Policy: The embrace of green hydrogen technology is in perfect alignment with the European Union’s clean energy requirements and its overarching goals for climate neutrality.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• The article’s central theme is the transition to clean energy, focusing on the production and use of green hydrogen. It discusses Germany’s leadership in renewable energy, with “more than 50% of the electricity produced coming from renewable energy sources,” and Bosch’s new hydrogen electrolyzer, which uses renewable energy to produce clean fuel. This directly addresses the goal of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• The article highlights significant industrial innovation and infrastructure development. Bosch’s commissioning of a “2.5 MW hydrogen electrolyzer” and the development of “two Bosch Hybrion electrolysis stacks” represent an upgrade of industrial processes and infrastructure to be more sustainable. The mention of large-scale production of fuel-cell power modules and the opening of a second test station further underscore the focus on innovation.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• The article explicitly links the shift to clean energy with the fight against climate change. It opens by stating, “Climate change affects us all, and the world has been contemplating methods to deliver on clean energy targets.” The entire initiative of producing green hydrogen is a measure to combat climate change by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and cutting emissions, aligning with the G20’s reaffirmation of emission targets.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article points to several instances of partnership and international cooperation. The “G20 Summit in South Africa” is mentioned as a platform where nations reaffirmed their commitments to clean energy. At a corporate level, the article notes that the new electrolyzers were “built in Germany by FEST,” indicating a partnership with Bosch. Furthermore, Germany’s actions are aligned with the “EU’s clean energy requirements,” showcasing regional cooperation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article directly supports this target by highlighting Germany’s achievement of having “more than 50% of the electricity produced coming from renewable energy sources” and the push for green hydrogen as a new form of clean energy.
• Target 7.a: By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology… and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology. The G20 Summit’s reaffirmation of clean energy targets and Bosch’s significant investment in developing and commissioning a hydrogen electrolyzer are direct examples of actions toward this target.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies. Bosch’s commissioning of the hydrogen electrolyzer is a prime example of adopting a clean technology to create a sustainable industrial process for energy generation, reducing reliance on “older, more harmful energy generation methods.”
• Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors… encouraging innovation. The article details Bosch’s innovation, including the development of its “Hybrion electrolysis stacks” and the start of “large-scale production of its fuel-cell power module in Stuttgart in mid-2023.” The opening of a second test station also points to ongoing research and development.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. Germany’s position as a “regional leader in the adoption of the renewable energy market” and its alignment with “the EU’s clean energy requirements” demonstrate the integration of climate action into national and regional policy. The G20 Summit’s focus on emission targets further reflects this integration at an international level.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 7 Targets

• Indicator for Target 7.2: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption. The article provides a specific data point for this indicator: “more than 50% of the electricity produced [in Germany] coming from renewable energy sources.”

Indicators for SDG 9 Targets

• Indicator for Target 9.4: CO2 emission per unit of value added. While not explicitly stated, the adoption of green hydrogen technology, which produces zero emissions, directly implies a reduction in this indicator. The capacity of the new infrastructure, such as the “2.5 MW hydrogen electrolyzer” and its output of “over 1 metric ton of hydrogen daily,” serves as a tangible measure of the adoption of clean technology.
• Indicator for Target 9.5: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP. The article implies investment in R&D through actions like Bosch opening a “second test station for Hybrion PEM electrolysis stacks” and the fact that its fuel-cell power module was “nominated for the German President’s Future Prize,” reflecting a high standard of innovation.

Indicators for SDG 13 Targets

• Indicator for Target 13.2: Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan which increases their ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change. The article implies this by stating that the “vast majority of nations reaffirmed their commitments to clean energy production at the recent G20 Summit” and that Germany’s actions are “perfectly aligned with the EU’s clean energy requirements.”

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: energiesmedia.com