Loading...
HARTING Technology Group has commissioned a new fuel cell pilot plant at its Espelkamp site in Germany, adding reversible hydrogen technology to its existing biogas and photovoltaic energy infrastructure.
The plant, supplied by Bavarian manufacturer Reverion, is initially being used to convert locally produced biogas directly into electricity. In the future, it is also expected to store renewable energy temporarily in the form of green hydrogen and convert it back into electricity when required.
For industrial operations, this type of system can support more flexible energy use, improve resilience during peak demand and create new options for local renewable energy storage.
The Reverion system uses reversible high-temperature technology. Unlike conventional solutions that require separate electrolysers, gas storage and fuel cell systems, the Reverion plant integrates multiple conversion steps into one system.
This integrated design helps reduce energy losses. According to HARTING, the system can achieve a round-trip efficiency of up to 75 per cent when converting electricity into hydrogen and then back into electricity. By comparison, many conventional hydrogen storage configurations recover around 40 to 50 per cent of the original energy.
Energy that is not converted into electricity can also be used as process heat in the biogas plant, helping maintain fermentation.
In the current development phase, HARTING is testing different system configurations to evaluate storage capacity and future scaling potential.
The system is designed for:
FunctionTechnical valueElectrolysis mode power inputUp to 250 kWFuel cell mode reverse power outputUp to 100 kWCurrent site energy coverageAround 3%Energy source integrationBiogas and photovoltaicsFuture storage mediumGreen hydrogen
The electricity generated is used for production and administration at several HARTING plants in Espelkamp.
The pilot plant is integrated into HARTING’s existing energy infrastructure and can be connected to energy and load management systems through defined interfaces.
Although the plant currently covers only a small share of the site’s energy demand, the technology could support future applications where industrial sites need more flexible, fail-safe and locally managed energy systems.
For commercial vehicle and component manufacturers, this type of technology is relevant because production sites are increasingly expected to combine renewable energy, storage, load balancing and resilient power supply.
The Reverion plant uses HARTING connectors from the Han® portfolio, including Han® HPR housings and Han-Modular® inserts.
These components provide robust and flexible interfaces for power, signal and data transmission within the plant. The modular design allows different transmission media to be combined in a single connector and securely integrated into the system.
For engineers, this is the key component angle: hydrogen and fuel cell systems depend not only on energy conversion technology, but also on reliable electrical, data and signal interfaces that can support safe operation and system monitoring.
