Intelligent Energy management at R&D facility in Offenbach
The heart of this innovation is Honda’s green hydrogen production plant, powered entirely by renewable solar energy. Unlike traditional setups, it doesn’t just produce hydrogen, it does so intelligently. Using predictive energy management, the system ensures that hydrogen is generated only when surplus solar power is available, maximising efficiency and minimising environmental impact.
Integrated directly into HRE-G’s Smart Company Building, this energy system manages the facility’s base load (around 450 kW on workdays and 200 kW on weekends) creating a dynamic balance between electricity usage and hydrogen production.
Fuelling with a Purpose
The hydrogen generated isn’t stored idly. With enough capacity to refuel 110 passenger cars or 11 hydrogen trucks, the facility offers a working model of scalable clean energy. Whether powering company vehicles or serving as a future fuelling hub, this infrastructure shows how Honda is turning theory into practice.
The system also highlights the potential of green hydrogen to support the broader mobility transition, not just to electric, but truly zero-emissions.
Honda’s Commitment to Sustainability
This effort aligns seamlessly with Honda’s long-term sustainability goals. Honda aims to electrify two-thirds of its global vehicle sales by 2030. But it’s about more than just vehicles.
Honda’s mission is to create a carbon-free society that brings joy to people’s daily life’s; connecting energy use, mobility, and smart living under one vision. Whether it’s e:PROGRESS powering EVs at home, or hydrogen powering operations in Germany, Honda’s approach is deeply human-centric. Technology for people, planet, and purpose.
The Next Stage: Honda’s Smart Hydrogen Facility
In late 2023, Honda announced the next step for the Offenbach Smart Company project, the installation of a next-generation stationary fuel cell cogeneration unit. Developed based on Honda’s fuel cell technology, this unit produces both electricity and heat, further optimising energy efficiency on-site.
Thus, the upgrade ties into the existing energy system using AI-powered control to orchestrate when to draw from solar panels, when to produce hydrogen, and when to store or release energy. It’s an intelligent, adaptable microgrid in action, offering a blueprint for sustainable business operations.
Looking Ahead: Broader Horizons for Hydrogen
Honda’s hydrogen ambitions aren’t limited to Europe. At the 2023 European Hydrogen Week, Honda unveiled its next-gen fuel cell system, designed not only for cars, but for commercial vehicles, construction machinery, and even stationary power solutions.
And in a bold move toward space exploration, Honda is partnering with Sierra Space and Tec-Masters to test a regenerative hydrogen fuel cell system aboard the International Space Station. The goal is to develop a closed-loop system capable of powering future lunar or planetary missions.
Conclusion
Whether through e:PROGRESS at home or hydrogen microgrids in Germany, Honda is empowering people with energy that’s clean, smart, and connected. As more of the world pivots toward sustainability, Honda’s work at Offenbach shows that the future isn’t just possible, it’s already here.
