Siemens bolsters green hydrogen production with cutting-edge generative AI technology

Siemens is set to revolutionize the hydrogen industry by introducing new generative artificial intelligence (AI) software tools designed to enhance the design, engineering, and automation of hydrogen plants. These advanced solutions, which will be available through Siemens Xcelerator marketplace by the end of 2024, aim to expedite the scale-up of green hydrogen production, a critical element in achieving sustainability targets within the industrial sector.

Enhancing Plant Design and Engineering with AI

The centerpiece of Siemens’ new offerings is the Hydrogen Plant Configurator, a generative AI-driven chatbot. This innovative tool allows users to input desired design characteristics, which the AI then uses to generate detailed block flow diagrams and precise layouts of system units and connections. By predicting key plant metrics such as power consumption and heat generation, the configurator simplifies the initial stages of plant design. These generated designs can seamlessly integrate with Siemens’ engineering and simulation software like Comos and gProms, automating further stages of design such as the creation of piping and instrumentation diagrams.

Axel Lorenz, CEO of Process Automation at Siemens, emphasized the significance of these developments, stating, “Green hydrogen is crucial for the decarbonization of industry. It will be a scarce commodity for the foreseeable future, making it even more important to accelerate the ramp-up of production capacities. Generative artificial intelligence can provide support in the crucial phases of hydrogen production to save considerable time and costs.”

Streamlining Project Planning with Comos AI

In addition to the Hydrogen Plant Configurator, Siemens is launching Comos AI, an AI-based assistant for project planning. This tool is capable of generating equipment specifications and diagrams from natural language descriptions and can automatically complete or correct models and drawings. Comos AI not only facilitates cross-domain engineering phases but also enables the transformation of images, scans, or PDFs into precise engineering diagrams and models, streamlining documentation and technical details retrieval.

Automating Process Control with AI

Further advancing the automation of hydrogen plant operations, Siemens introduces an innovative module for the Simatic PCS neo distributed control system, dubbed SFC Generation. This module leverages generative AI to produce sequential function charts (SFCs), which visually represent process logic, enhancing the management of complex workflows within the hydrogen production process.

Availability and Showcase

The Hydrogen Plant Configurator is slated for release on the Siemens Xcelerator Marketplace by the end of 2024, with Comos AI and SFC Generation expected in early 2025. Siemens will debut these groundbreaking AI tools at the Achema trade fair in Frankfurt, running from June 10 to 14, 2024.

The introduction of AI tools by Siemens represents a significant technological leap in the hydrogen sector. By reducing the time and complexity involved in designing and automating hydrogen plants, Siemens not only supports the global transition to sustainable energy but also positions itself as a leader in industrial innovation. These tools are likely to set new standards in the industry, driving both efficiency and sustainability.