The sun and wind offer abundant clean energy, and harnessing their full potential involves developing effective and cost-efficient methods to capture and store this energy. Ensuring a consistent supply, regardless of changing natural conditions, calls for innovative and fully reliable solutions. STOFF2 addresses this need with a forward-thinking approach, positioning itself as a visionary leader inspired by the pioneers of Germany’s solar revolution. The company is dedicated to redefining energy storage and utilisation, bringing renewable energy to all sectors, especially those which have hard-to-abate carbon emissions. Balancing Intermittent Renewable Energy Production and Shifting to Green Hydrogen The global shift towards renewable energy presents many challenges, especially in regions like Germany, Western and Southern Europe, where the drive to end fossil fuel dependence is very powerful. The issue isn’t just about generating enough renewable power; it’s about managing the intermittent nature of resources like solar and wind power. On days when the sun is shining brightly or the wind is blowing steadily, more renewable power is often produced than can be used or stored, leading to significant curtailment—essentially wasted energy. In Germany alone, more than ten terawatt hours of renewable energy were curtailed in 2023, enough to power millions of households. This phenomenon is expected to worsen as renewable energy generation continues to expand. Another pressing challenge is the existing reliance on grey hydrogen, which is produced using fossil fuels, especially natural gas. Despite consuming nearly 100 million tons of hydrogen annually for energy intensive industries like steel, cement, glass and fertilisers, a staggering 98 per cent of this hydrogen is still produced using methods emitting significant amounts of carbon dioxide. Transitioning this production to green hydrogen—hydrogen generated from renewable energy—is crucial for achieving global decarbonisation goals. Vision for a Decarbonized Future through Advanced Energy Solutions Andrew Zwinkels and Alexander Voigt, the masterminds behind STOFF2, identified an immediate need for a novel approach to energy storage and hydrogen generation. This resulted in the creation of a transformative electrolyser that integrates energy storage and electrolyser capabilities in one device. The company’s flagship technology, the Zinc Zwischenschritt Electrolysis (ZZE), addresses the critical issue of energy intermittency by allowing renewable energy to be stored and converted into green hydrogen in a continuous 24/7 cycle. This is achieved by charging the device during periods of low-cost, abundant renewable energy—such as during peak solar or wind generation times—and then using that stored energy to produce a steady flow of green hydrogen on demand. Unlike traditional electrolysers, which require simultaneous energy input for their hydrogen production, STOFF2’s technology decouples these processes, enabling more flexible and efficient energy management.