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Obituary: Ludwig Boelkow
Pioneer of hydrogen technology dies
Dr. Ludwig Boelkow, a pioneer of renewable energies and hydrogen technology as well as co-founder of the German Hydrogen Association, died on 25. July 2003 in his house at Gruenwald near Munich, aged 91.
Ludwig Boelkow was born at Schwerin (Mecklenburg, North Germany) in 1912 and started early to work in the field of aerospace. He was regarded as the typical engineer and inventor and received numerous awards.
After having retired from the aerospace business in 1977 aged 65 he started activities aimed at securing the future of mankind by means of technology.
This was the time when a broad public became aware for the first time that our energy system is not sustainable. He saw much earlier than many others that there are limits to growth and that alternatives to traditional processes must be looked for. He also recognized the importance of thinking in networks.
This challenge he accepted. In 1983 he established the Ludwig Boelkow Foundation and the predecessor organization of what is now L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH. The latter participated in 1996 in the foundation of DWV, together with himself.
Turning the attention to this then new topic and identifying himself, as a successful and recognized entrepreneur, with these topics and aspects he had a great effect. He contributed considerably to making renewable energies, hydrogen, and fuel cells acceptable, and he addressed a wide public with his ideas — the latter even literally by means of many speeches he gave until a few years ago. DWV will continue his work in this field.
Published by the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (DWV), Berlin
V. i. S. d. P.: Dr. Ulrich Schmidtchen, Berlin
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