The customer is the SAN Group, which in the future will produce up to 100 kg of green hydrogen per day at its company headquarters at Herzogenburg, Lower Austria, for emission-free mobility and to ensure autonomy through emergency power supply.
“The installation of the first Fronius Solhub is a flagship project,” enthuses Martin Hackl, Global Director of the Business Unit Solar Energy, Fronius International GmbH, “Green hydrogen is generated and stored directly on site using solar energy and water. This is then used to fill hydrogen vehicles and, thanks to reconversion, the solar energy is also available in the winter - in this way we can make use of the sun 24 hours a day.”
Commissioning in spring 2022
The groundbreaking ceremony took place in May 2021 and the Fronius Solhub will be commissioned in spring 2022. The first green hydrogen production plant in Lower Austria is being built at SAN Biotech Park and will be operated with 100% renewable energy. A photovoltaic system with an output of 1.5 MW on the roofs of the SAN Group’s industrial park provides the power for electrolysis. Both the H2 infrastructure and the service and maintenance of the green system solution are being implemented by Fronius, a reliable partner for the energy revolution.
The hydrogen generated is used to power the SAN Group’s fleet and can also be used by partners in the region. Around 100 kg of green hydrogen is generated each day. This is enough to fill around 16 passenger cars or drive more than 1500 km in a bus or truck.
“The idea behind the system is to store and use solar energy 24 hours a day. In the future, the fully integrated energy concept with waste heat usage and reconversion of the excess hydrogen will supply the entire SAN Group site,” enthuses Martin Blauensteiner, Managing Director of SAN Real and Project Manager.
Energy revolution for companies
“We are supporting companies in the energy revolution,” explains Dominik Mittermaier, Technical Sales H2, Fronius International GmbH, “companies like SAN Group have a pioneering role in that they are making a clear commitment to increase their use of renewable energies and are taking action to make this a reality. Fronius Solhub brings a range of benefits, including improvement of the carbon footprint, regional value creation, sustainable mobility solutions, and autonomy through emergency power supply.”
The innovative and multi-award winning solution provides a sustainable alternative to the use of fossil fuels for mobility. Seasonal storage and utilization of waste heat increase the system’s total efficiency standard and make the Solhub a truly smart energy solution.
Fronius Solhub wins Mission Innovation Austria Award
The Fronius Solhub was recently recognized with another award: Outstanding achievements by individuals, companies and project teams in the field of energy innovation were honored as part of the online specialist conference Mission Innovation Austria. The high-caliber panel were suitably impressed with the Fronius Solhub in the category “Tech Solution and Local Hero,” awarding it the Mission Innovation Austria Award.
See also: Forging ahead towards one million solar rooftops
In Mission Innovation Austria Online (MIA), the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology and the Climate and Energy Fund have created a forum for all those who are actively shaping the change process in the energy system by developing and implementing exemplary new technologies and solutions.
Two decades of hydrogen experience
For around two decades now, Fronius has been researching and developing hydrogen solutions, and has thus become an innovation leader in handling green hydrogen produced using solar energy. During this time, the family company has been able to amass extensive expertise from countless collaborations and innovative pilot projects, as well as from working with leading hydrogen bodies.
The next step is the construction of the Fronius Hydrogen Competence Centre in Steinhaus, Upper Austria. This will enable the company to pool expertise and resources on the subject of hydrogen, and continue its research, development and production of H2 systems. (mfo)
