AKROS Energy Opens Pilot Plant for Salt-Based Hydrogen Storage in Germany

AKROS Energy GmbH has inaugurated its pilot plant for chemical hydrogen storage at the H2APEX site in Laage, near Rostock, Germany. The facility, which opened on May 5, 2026, represents the company's transition from technology development to market entry.

The pilot plant uses AKROS Energy's proprietary catalyst to convert an aqueous solution of potassium bicarbonate (KHCO₃) and hydrogen into potassium formate (KCOOH). The resulting loaded salt is stable, non-toxic, non-flammable, and indefinitely storable. At the destination, the reaction reverses to release hydrogen on demand.

According to CEO Johannes Emigholz, "Salt as a hydrogen carrier offers a safe, low-cost and infrastructure-light pathway to bring hydrogen from regions where it can be produced abundantly to the industrial markets that need it."

The pilot plant was developed with contributions from industry partners Evonik and Siemens, and serves as the centerpiece of FormaPort, a publicly co-funded R&D collaboration backed by the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the European Union. Research partners include LIKAT, TAB, and Hochschule Wismar.

AKROS Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of H2APEX, headquartered in Rostock-Laage, Germany. The company will exhibit at the World Hydrogen Summit 2026 in Rotterdam from May 19-21.

Originally reported by Hydrogen Central. Read the full article →