The hydrogen filling station in Irschenberg recently turned two years old - but so far only three cars with fuel cells have been registered in the district.
A conversation about the future of hydrogen as a drive.
Miesbach
– In an interview with our newspaper, Thomas Acher explains why there has been no resounding success so far, but why the technology still has a future in the Oberland despite increasing demand.
The 38-year-old from Miesbach studied mechanical engineering in Munich and Singapore, heads the development of hydrogen filling stations at Linde Engineering in Pullach and Vienna - and firmly believes in the potential of H2.
Hydrogen to the energy carrier of the future: an expert explains why
Mr. Acher, hydrogen is seen as a beacon of hope. Gas still has a niche existence in the transport sector. Why?
In Germany in particular, people have relied on diesel and petrol for too long.
We see the result now.
The transport sector in particular has to do some serious work on CO2 emissions.
Consequently, as part of a clearer understanding of climate change, alternative energy sources are increasingly becoming the focus of a broader public.
As an alternative to purely battery-powered trucks or buses, hydrogen has great potential, especially in commercial vehicles.
Nevertheless, only three of over 67,000 cars in the district drive with H2.
I see three reasons for this.
Firstly, the vehicles are relatively expensive, secondly, the price of fuel is about the same as petrol or diesel, and thirdly, the network of filling stations is not particularly dense.
However, these framework conditions will continue to improve.
Of course, the technology faces stiff competition from battery-powered cars.
I see prospects in particular where batteries take up so much space and weight that they are neither technically nor commercially viable.
This is the case in heavy goods traffic, for example in trains, ships, aviation and buses or trucks.
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Thomas Acher, Head of Development at Linde.
© THOMAS PLETTENBERG
Hydrogen for truck filling stations and bakeries
Would the gas station in Irschenberg be prepared for heavy traffic?
A larger filling station for trucks is more technically demanding than one designed for cars.
The pressure levels during refueling differ.
In development, we are also testing liquid hydrogen for heavy-duty trucks.
The operator decides whether the filling station will be modified or expanded - I don't know whether a conversion is planned in Irschenberg.
It would be technically possible.
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And what about demand?
There have been many positive experiences.
For example, the supermarket chain MPreis in Völs in Tyrol operates its bakery ovens with hydrogen.
In addition, MPreis has set up its own filling station and also introduced the corresponding truck logistics.
This could be a role model for many companies.
I can imagine a number of projects for the district of Miesbach in which the use of hydrogen makes sense throughout.
How else do such companies intend to achieve their decarbonization goals?
Gas stations for trains: H2 also conceivable for BRB
Do you deal with such projects as a developer?
Rather with the efficiency, the robustness, the availability and with new technologies.
I lead a team in Pullach and Vienna, which also runs two test stands.
This is a mixture of theoretical and practical development.
We are already the technology leader in the company and ready for further applications.
Would the trains in the Oberland also be a possible field of application?
That's a great topic (laughs).
A few weeks ago we inaugurated the first Linde filling station for trains in Lower Saxony.
Of course, I immediately had to think of the BRB.
So yes, the technology is there and it works.
Hydrogen as an energy carrier in the agricultural sector
That sounds similar to private cars. Do you have a forecast for the development in the district?
In the short term, I expect that a significant proportion of trucks will be powered by H2.
It is difficult to say, for example, how many gas stations will be created by companies.
In the medium term, the passenger car sector will also follow suit.
There will be fewer commuters who can also drive to Munich and back using battery power.
But the number of vacationers who want to cover longer distances and therefore rely on hydrogen, the number of H2 company cars or the number of trucks, buses and agricultural vehicles with hydrogen engines will increase.
You mean tractors with hydrogen?
Among other things, yes.
With battery electric vehicles, farmers would have to adjust their working hours to the charging times.
With hydrogen, the flexibility is significantly higher.
How realistic is this development?
There is no automatism.
For example, the number of filling stations will not automatically mean more hydrogen vehicles.
But there are logistics projects, companies that join forces and requirements that we as developers can meet.
This also includes increasing the throughput at the pump so that cars can refuel more frequently.
The question is not which technology will prevail over the others - whether, for example, more hydrogen, e-fuels or batteries will be used.
They will all coexist.
You can find more current news from the district of Miesbach and the Tegernsee region at Merkur.de/Miesbach.