Why Purity Is the Hidden Hero of
Clean Energy and Clean Air
From Hydrogen to Air Quality:
lean energy and clean air share a common foundation:
purity. Whether in the fuel that powers tomorrow’s mo-
bility or in the air we breathe, invisible factors determine
performance, efficiency, and health. Measuring and managing
these unseen elements is what turns sustainability from vision
into reality.
Hydrogen is a cornerstone of the energy transition, but its use
depends on consistently high purity. Hydrogen’s potential is
immense – but only if it’s clean. In production methods like
electrolysis, steam methane reforming, or methane pyroly-
sis, even trace impurities can wreak havoc. Corrosive gases,
efficiency losses, and safety risks are just the beginning. For
applications like fuel cells, where precision is paramount, puri-
ty is a necessity. Real-time gas analysis is therefore essential
for process stability and product quality.
With decades of expertise in gas analysis, AVL offers a
comprehensive portfolio of solutions designed to monitor
and manage hydrogen quality at every stage of the process.
From robust analyzer cabinets based on FTIR, NDIR, and FID
to high-resolution mass spectrometers, AVL’s systems detect
critical components like oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane,
hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and hydrocarbons in real time.
Continuous measurement ensures that harmful substances
are detected early, protecting downstream applications such
as storage, transport, and especially fuel cells. As industries
scale up hydrogen infrastructure, the demand for reliable,
high-performance analysis tools will only grow. AVL’s com-
mitment to innovation and precision positions it not just as a
supplier, but as a partner in shaping the future of clean energy.
Seeing the Unseen Beyond Energy: Measuring the Air Around Us
But purity is not only a matter of clean fuels – it’s also about
the quality of the air surrounding us. The same principle that
governs hydrogen applies to our atmosphere: what we can’t
see can still have a major impact.
Air quality defines the health of our environment and, ultimate-
ly, of ourselves. Among its invisible components are ultrafine
particles (UFPs), smaller than 100 nanometers, which are
increasingly recognized as a threat to human health. Because
of their size, they can penetrate deep into the respiratory and
cardiovascular systems. Even at low concentrations, their
effects are significant.
Legislation reflects this growing awareness: Euro 7 introduc-
es limits for particle number emissions, while EN 16976 and
ACTRIS define standards for ambient UFP measurement. Un-
like traditional mass-based metrics, particle number concen-
tration provides a far more accurate picture of real exposure
– shifting the focus from what is visible to what truly matters.
Precise, continuous measurement is therefore essential – not
only to protect health but also to guide effective environmental
policy and innovation.
From hydrogen production to air monitoring, measurement
transforms the invisible into knowledge. With its expertise in
gas and particle analysis, AVL helps ensure the reliability and
performance of the technologies shaping a cleaner future.
2025