Hydrogen testing services

Validate the safety, efficiency and performance of your hydrogen-powered applications.

What is hydrogen testing?

Hydrogen testing comprises various test procedures and methodologies aimed at ensuring the safety, reliability, efficiency and performance of hydrogen technologies from fuel cell to storage systems for both industrial and consumer use. Hydrogen tests do this by validating the integrity of hydrogen systems, components and infrastructure.

Hydrogen testing is becoming increasingly important due to the growing emphasis on sustainable energy solutions and the global push to reduce carbon emissions. As hydrogen emerges as a key component in the transition to a clean energy future, it is being integrated into various sectors such as transportation, manufacturing and power generation.

At TÜV SÜD, we help you to ensure the safety and efficiency of your hydrogen technologies and hydrogen-powered applications. Our hydrogen testing services cover the entire hydrogen value chain from source to application.

Why hydrogen testing services are important

Hydrogen tests are essential to address safety concerns, meet hydrogen testing standards and optimise performance. This fosters innovation and consumer confidence in the sector. It ultimately supports global efforts to combat climate change and achieve sustainability goals.

A reliable hydrogen test by a trusted third party such as TÜV SÜD can help you address the following key business challenges connected to advanced hydrogen technologies:

Assure safety

As hydrogen is highly flammable and poses a risk of explosion if not handled correctly, ensuring safety is of paramount importance. Rigorous hydrogen testing ensures that you design and construct hydrogen systems such as storage tanks, pipelines, and fuel cells in a way that prevents leaks and withstands high pressures, thus minimising accident risks.

Ensure material compatibility

Hydrogen can cause embrittlement and corrosion in certain materials. This can compromise the structural integrity of your hydrogen storage and delivery systems. Testing identifies suitable materials that can safely withstand prolonged exposure to hydrogen.

Validate performance

Conducting comprehensive hydrogen tests that evaluate the effectiveness of your hydrogen technologies is important to assess the output, operational stability and energy efficiency. This enables you to address safety concerns, and validate performance, effectiveness, and operational stability.

Comply with regulation and standards

Regulatory bodies have set stringent safety and performance standards to ensure the safe and effective introduction of hydrogen fuel. Testing ensures compliance with relevant hydrogen testing standards, facilitating the approval and certification processes required for your market entry in various global markets.

Minimise environmental impact

Given hydrogen’s reputation as a clean energy source, environmental testing evaluates the overall environmental impact of hydrogen production, storage, and usage. This ensures that your hydrogen technologies contribute positively to sustainability goals and reduce carbon emissions.

Technological progress

Ongoing testing and validation are essential for the further development of your hydrogen technologies. By identifying potential issues and areas for improvement, testing drives innovation and development of more efficient and safer hydrogen solutions.

Customer trust

Rigorous testing demonstrates that your hydrogen technologies are safe, reliable, and ready for widespread adoption. This helps build trust among your consumers and stakeholders to increase the acceptance of hydrogen as a main energy source.

How TÜV SÜD can help you with hydrogen testing services

At TÜV SÜD, we have anticipated the importance of green hydrogen as an enabler of a zero-carbon future. We have decades of experience in hydrogen technology, applications, and equipment. More than 500 of our experts have experience with hydrogen, ensuring high availability and leading know-how for almost any customer requirement.

We have developed a portfolio of hydrogen services and a hydrogen ecosystem that goes beyond specific industry services. As a result, we can help you minimise risk and ensure safety from strategy to operation.

We combine decades of experience in hydrogen with an extensive network of customers in renewable energy, pipeline and infrastructure, process industry and mobility. This helps us provide tailored services to support your hydrogen projects, ensuring safety and efficiency in complex projects.

Our hydrogen services range from individual component level to plant commissioning and operation. They cover industrial equipment, machinery, Industry 4.0 applications, laboratory services, software, cybersecurity, smart and renewable energy, and electromobility and refuelling infrastructure.

Our comprehensive services include testing, inspection and certification, training and ecosystem.

In addition, together with our subsidiaries, evety and LBST, we can help companies with their hydrogen strategy, investment decisions, market data and project management. This makes us the perfect partner for you to enter the hydrogen market with confidence.

Get started with TÜV SÜD

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What our hydrogen testing services include

PS COM IEP Hydrogen graphic testing approach

What our hydrogen testing services include

Our hydrogen services include testing, certification, advisory, feasibility, and training services. These cover every step along the hydrogen project lifecycle from early planning to operation.

Hydrogen production testing
Hydrogen production testing evaluates the methods and processes used to generate hydrogen, ensuring efficiency, purity and environmental sustainability. This includes purity analysis, efficiency testing of your hydrogen production processes, and emissions testing.

Hydrogen storage testing
Hydrogen storage testing evaluates the performance and safety of various methods and materials used to store hydrogen. These tests include pressure testing, leak detection, material compatibility testing, and durability testing under various conditions.

Hydrogen transportation testing
Hydrogen transport testing evaluates the safety, efficiency and performance of systems and technologies used to transport hydrogen from production facilities to end users. This includes pipeline testing, tank testing, and leak detection in transportation systems.

Hydrogen component, fuel cell and system testing
Hydrogen fuel cell and component testing evaluates the performance, durability and safety of fuel cells and associated components used in hydrogen-based systems. It evaluates the efficiency of fuel cells in converting hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, and their ability to withstand various operating conditions and stressors over time. These tests include performance testing, durability testing, material testing for compatibility, and environmental testing.

Hydrogen application testing
Hydrogen application testing evaluates the performance, safety and compatibility of your hydrogen-based technologies and systems in various applications. It evaluates the functionality and efficiency of your hydrogen-powered equipment and devices. This includes

Vehicle testing for hydrogen-powered vehicles, including cars, buses, and trucks.
Stationary application testing for stationary power generation, such as backup power systems and microgrids.
Industrial use testing in various industrial processes, such as steel production and chemical manufacturing.

How hydrogen testing services apply to industries

Hydrogen testing for automotive

Hydrogen testing advances hydrogen as a viable alternative to fossil fuels in the automotive industry. It validates the safety, performance and reliability of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) and hydrogen internal combustion engines (HICEs). It verifies that hydrogen storage systems, fuel cells and related components meet safety standards. It also assesses the efficiency and durability of hydrogen systems under different operating conditions.

Hydrogen testing for rail

Hydrogen testing ensures, safe, efficient and reliable hydrogen-power trains. A hydrogen test verifies that all hydrogen components meet stringent safety standards, preventing leaks and potential hazards in a high-capacity, high-speed environment. It also evaluates the performance and durability of hydrogen systems under different operating conditions, facilitating the long-term adoption of hydrogen technology in rail transport.

Hydrogen testing for energy

Hydrogen testing is critical to the energy industry because it facilitates the safe and efficient production, storage, and use of hydrogen as a clean energy source. A hydrogen test verifies that hydrogen infrastructure, including pipelines, storage tanks and fuel cells, meet stringent hydrogen testing standards. It also evaluates hydrogen systems under different conditions, which is essential for integrating hydrogen into the energy grid.

Hydrogen testing for manufacturing

Hydrogen testing plays a vital role in manufacturing as it ensures that hydrogen-powered machines and production processes function safely, reliably and efficiently. More manufacturers are adopting hydrogen as a clean energy source to reduce carbon emissions and improve sustainability. This makes rigorous testing more important for verifying the integrity and performance of hydrogen storage systems, fuel cells and other related components.