Off-Grid: PV-Based Hydrogen Microgrid Projects Around the World

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Time: 02:30 pm - 04:00 pm
Hall: ICM München
Room: Room 14 C

Discover how green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are transforming decentralized energy systems worldwide. This session will be presenting hands-on experience from pioneering projects in Thailand, Ghana, Namibia and South Africa. Find out how solar-powered hydrogen microgrids can replace diesel generators, strengthen energy resilience and enable short- to long-term storage, while supporting environmental and climate goals. Project partners including German SMEs and research institutes, share insights on lessons learned, local benefits and the replication potential of these systems. Selected projects were implemented with the support from the Export Initiative Environmental Protection. Off-Grid: Technology, innovation and application (e.g. productive use, business models, agricultural-PV, water-energy-food )

02:30 pm - 02:40 pmWelcome & Introduction

02:40 pm - 02:55 pmHygO & HyTra - Namibia & Südafrika

Dr. Mario Lindner

Research Assistent - Transfer and Use of Hydrogen Systems

Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU

02:55 pm - 03:10 pmGH2GH - Ghana

Dr. -Ing. Jonas Pluschke

Research associate

Hochschule Bochum - Sustainable Technologies Laboratory

03:10 pm - 03:25 pmGreenH2Islands - Thailand

Manfred Limbrunner

Head of Sales, Marketing & Business Development

H2 Powercell GmbH

Dr. Philipp Blechinger

Head of Unit Off-Grid Systems

Reiner Lemoine Institut gGmbH

03:25 pm - 04:00 pmPanel Discussion

To Program Overview

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Speakers

Speaker

Dr. Mario Lindner, Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU

Research Assistent - Transfer and Use of Hydrogen Systems

Germany

Research Assistant - Transfer and Use of Hydrogen SystemsFraunhofer IWU Sept. 2025 - Today · Chemnitz, Saxony, Germany Director Engineering, Product Development Europe - Linamar Corp. (McLaren Engineering Crimmitschau Tech Center GmbH)Sept. 2018 - Aug. 2025 · Crimmitschau, Saxony, Germany Product Development Manager - Linamar Corp. (Linamar Development Center GmbH)Nov. 2014 - Aug. 2018 · Crimmitschau, Saxony, Germany Manager R&D Simulation - ThyssenKrupp Presta Chemnitz GmbH June 2008-Oct. 2014 Chemnitz, Saxony, Germany Research Assistant - Chemnitz University of Technology Oct. 2002 - May 2008 - Chemnitz, Saxony, Germany

Speaker

Dr. Philipp Blechinger, Reiner Lemoine Institut gGmbH

Head of Unit Off-Grid Systems

Germany

Philipp is an international expert in island energy supply and rural electrification. He conducted a PhD in engineering about 'Barriers to implementing renewable energies on Caribbean islands' at the TU Berlin. In 2011, he joined the Reiner Lemoine Institut and he started to develop the Off-Grid Systems Research Unit, which he is currently heading. Within the Unit, he develops and manages projects and strategic processes. In 2019 Philipp was appointed Visiting Scholar in the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory (RAEL) of the University of California, Berkeley as part of the C-BEAR+ project and he is a selected member of the Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA) at the Berlin Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Since 2020 he is also leading the RLS-Graduate School on Energy System Transition with currently 6 PhD students.

Speaker

Dr. -Ing. Jonas Pluschke, Hochschule Bochum - Sustainable Technologies Laboratory

Research associate

Germany

Jonas Pluschke holds a PhD in Environmental Process Engineering from TU Berlin, where he focused on industrial water management and sustainable resource solutions in several international projects. He now works on the integration of hydrogen technologies into renewable energy systems, particularly photovoltaic-battery-hydrogen microgrids for resilient off-grid power supply. Within the GH2GH project, he is involved in developing and operating a PV-hydrogen microgrid in Ghana that combines renewable electricity generation with hydrogen production and storage. His interests include system integration and the practical deployment of sustainable infrastructure in emerging markets.

Speaker

Manfred Limbrunner, H2 Powercell GmbH

Head of Sales, Marketing & Business Development

Germany

With over 25 years of experience, Manfred Limbrunner is a leading figure in the fuel cell industry. During his 24-year tenure at Proton Motor, he served in key roles ranging from CTO to Board Member; as Director of Sales and Marketing, he was instrumental in developing the company's brand and driving its commercialization.Today, at H2 Powercell GmbH, he leads the marketing and sales of electrolysis and hydrogen technologies. In this role, he also supports partner companies BEN-Tec and Hydro Generation in implementing decentralized, renewable energy solutions for efficient, carbon-neutral power and heat generation.