Hydrogen can be oxidized, or in other words burned, in a fuel cell. It can also be burned in a modified conventional reciprocating combustion engine or a burner. These utilization systems have three main areas of application: power generation, heating, and mobility.
When hydrogen reacts with oxygen in a fuel cell, electrical current is generated, which can be fed into the grid or stored in a battery, for example. The electricity generated can also be used to power electric heating. For heating purposes, hydrogen can also be burned in a condensing boiler and the heat from combustion can be used directly for heating. Currently, it is common practice not to burn pure hydrogen, but to enrich conventional natural gas with hydrogen. Corresponding condensing boilers are usually labeled “H2-ready.”
In mobility, hydrogen is used as an energy storage medium. It can be used to generate electricity in a fuel cell, which is then used to power electric motors. On the other hand, it is also possible to burn the hydrogen in a gas engine similar to the familiar gasoline and diesel engines, thus converting it directly into mechanical energy for propulsion.
But regardless of how it is powered, hydrogen-powered vehicles do not produce harmful exhaust gases like gasoline and diesel engines, nor do they place an excessive burden on the environment through the mining of lithium. The combustion of hydrogen produces only water.
The German government currently subsidizes both battery and hydrogen cars. Buyers receive up to €6,000 in subsidies from the government via the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control. In addition, there is a discount of up to €3,000 (net) from the manufacturer. However, this program only subsidizes electric cars that cost a maximum of €65,000 (net list price). The full subsidy is only available for cars that cost a maximum of €40,000. (Source: Spiegel – “Which modes of transport should the government subsidize?”)
Source: Thorben Frahm. www.heizungsfinder.de [Online] [Zitat vom 28.10.2021]
https://www.heizungsfinder.de/gasheizung/gaskessel/h2-ready
Source: Nils-Viktor Sorge. www.spiegel.de [Online] [Zitat vom 28.10.2021]
https://www.spiegel.de/auto/elektroautos-wasserstoff-bei-deutschen-beliebter-als-batterien-a-955fa3e2-e5b4-4077-aa2c-ec43e938b95c