The goal is to completely transition the hydrogen economy, which has been primarily “gray” up to now, to “green” by 2050. But what is the ideal path to achieve this? The gap that exists until 2050 must be closed as optimally as possible from an ecological and techno-economic perspective. Companies in the industrial value chain need support for this, including in the form of sound guidance for action and decision-making, which in turn is based on valid technical data and scientific calculations.

The H2Chemie2025 study examines various technology and process paths for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, starting with production based on “gray” hydrogen and moving toward “green” hydrogen. The focus is on selecting the optimal and most efficient sequence and combination of technologies and processes to ensure the fastest possible transformation. Techno-economic and life cycle assessment system analyses are used to avoid detours and wrong turns, and thus time delays and unnecessary costs.

The Evonik company in Rheinfelden is to act as the nucleus. Based on real technology and process options at the Rheinfelden site, the optimal and most efficient path from “gray” to “green” hydrogen is to be determined on the basis of life cycle assessments and techno-economic evaluations. Both the time component (technological maturity of techniques and processes) and the different interactions between various techniques and processes will be considered. Certain paths fall outside the grid, others can only be used for a limited time (bridge technologies), and still others can be implemented directly.
The research project aims to create a “blueprint” for a roadmap that can then also support other industrial sites in carrying out the necessary transformation from ‘gray’ to “green.”

The project is funded by the Ministry of the Environment and its results directly support Baden-Württemberg’s political and strategic goals with regard to the Baden-Württemberg Hydrogen Roadmap of December 15, 2020.

The project was completed in 2024. The final report from Pforzheim University can be found at the link below.