Introduction

The Professorship for Advanced Powertrains at Chemnitz University of Technology has been conducting intensive research activities in the field of hydrogen fuel cells for several years, with a particular focus on mobile applications. The polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEM-FC) is the central research technology, with an increasing number of topics in the field of PEM electrolysis also being developed as part of R&D topics. A holistic, systematic research approach is pursued, starting with cell chemistry, -principles and -construction, through the design, construction and simulation of cell stacks to overall FC system simulations. The theoretical and model-based research approaches are combined with a wide range of experimental and analytical measurement methods and testing options. Based on the Open Source Stack (OSS) research platform and the components installed there, the use of innovative materials and raw materials as well as energy-efficient production, assembly, disassembly and testing procedures are being investigated. Using the open access of the OSS PEM-FC platform, all components of the FC-stack structure and the related FC-system can be analyzed in detail. This will create important fundamentals that will sustainably support the innovation strategy of Saxony in the field of hydrogen technologies. The OSS platform is currently also being developed with respect to PEM electrolysis, so that topic-specific analyses will be possible in the future.

Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU: Link

The Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU is the leading institute for resource-efficient production with the focus on the development of efficient technologies and intelligent production systems for the production of body and powertrain components as well as the optimization of the associated forming and machining production processes. As part of the IWU, the Referenzfabrik.H2 represents machines and systems for the production of components for fuel cells and electrolysers. The aim is to shift the production of the stacks to industrial production with large quantities, and so substantially reduce costs. For this purpose, a modular system of technologies is being developed, whose individual components can be technologically and economically evaluated.

Relevant research sectors: Link

• Operational strategies/energy management
• Ecological/economic analysis
• Characterisation of components of advanced powertrains
• Modelling and simulation
• Powertrain hybridisation/powertrain development
• Production processes for components

Introdcution

Training and research for the energy transition.

The Chair of Gas and Thermal Engineering is part of the Institute of Thermal Engineering and Thermodynamics and is assigned to the Faculty of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering.

The key competences focused on the integration of renewable energy sources - biogas, hydrogen, in the design of efficient, resource-saving, industrial heating processes and systems, in low-emission combustion technology and in the distribution and use of sustainable, gaseous energy sources.

The interdisciplinary Energy Technology working group is involved in teaching and research activities relating to innovative technologies for the efficient, economical and environmentally friendly generation, conversion, storage and utilisation of energy from a wide range of energy sources. The focus is on the following topics:

• Development of various reforming processes (design, calculation and optimisation) with conventional and regenerative fuels (including natural gas, biogas, diesel, liquid gas) for small and large fuel cell systems.
• Catalyst tests on a specially designed test rig focussing on the reforming of hydrocarbons for H2 production.
• Design and construction of gas treatment systems (desulphurisation, reforming and fine purification) using hydrogen.
• Energetic utilisation of special fuels (glycerine, solvents).
• Technology assessments and energy efficiency management (KPIs).
• Test field for thermal solar applications to investigate different types of collectors (e.g. tube and flat-plate collectors).
• Investigations into the effects of climate change on the energy industry and industrial processes.
• Analysis of fermentation processes for the production of biogas from various substrates.

Relevant Research Working Groups: Link

• Gas technology / Gastechnik
• Combustion technology / Verbrennungstechnik
• Thermoprocess technology / Thermoprozesstechnik
• Energy technology / Energietechnik
• Numerical modelling / Numerische Modellierung

Introduction

The global energy industry requires new technologies that meet both the security of supply and the sustainable use of resources. Therefore, the teaching and research focus of our professorship is on energy storage technologies on the one hand, but also on the further development of nuclear competencies. Specialized in hydrogen, high-temperature heat storage and the safety of present and future nuclear reactors, we conduct research for national and international energy supply.

Research at the Chair of Hydrogen and Nuclear Energy Technology includes future-oriented questions in the scientific fields of hydrogen technology, nuclear energy technology, thermohydraulics as well as application of innovative laser technologies.

The results of our projects, among others on hydrogen-based synthesis, laser-assisted surface modification and corrosion resistance of materials in molten salts, provide an important contribution to answering current and future relevant scientific and societal questions of energy supply and security.

Relevant Research: Link

The research foci of our professorship pursue the goal of providing safe, reliable and sustainable useful energy. They are characterized in particular by the use of innovative materials and manufacturing technologies in combination with novel energy conversion processes. A high degree of systemic understanding and plant-specific knowledge ensures the technical safety of even complex plants.

Research complexes of current projects:

• Safety and risk analyses of hydrogen-based systems
• Development of novel energy conversion technologies for combined use with wind and solar systems
• Development of laser-based manufacturing technologies for joining high-temperature resistant ceramics
• Thermohydraulic investigations for safe removal of decay heat from nuclear reactors and fuel pools
• Development of laser-based decontamination technologies for the dismantling of radioactively and chemically contaminated components
• Development of mathematical neutron flux models for nuclear safety analysis.

Introduction

FROM MATERIAL TO EFFICIENT APPLICATION

Fraunhofer IFAM Dresden, one of the leading institutes in powder metallurgy, conducts fundamental and applied research for solution-oriented material and technology development for innovative sintered and composite materials, functional materials as well as cellular metallic materials for energy technology, mobility and medical technology. Hydrogen technology plays a key role in the field of energy technology. The institute is distinguished by its strong interdisciplinary team in the fields of materials and production engineering, process engineering, mechatronics, chemistry, and physics.

The range of services comprises the industrial implementation of the research results through to the manufacture of prototypical components and their transfer to industrial application. The scientific departments focos on Powder Metallurgy, Additive Manufacturing, Cellular Metallic Materials and Components, Energy and Thermal Management and, Hydrogen Technology.

In the field of the hydrogen technology, Fraunhofer IFAM focuses on the continuous development of technical systems so that they can become more efficient, more robust, safer, and more economical, to generate, store, distribute and use of hydrogen.

Fields of Research in Hydrogen Technologies: Link

Fraunhofer IFAM develop innovative materials, manufacturing technologies and system components, in the fields of:

• Electrolysis: Catalysts, electrodes, coating technologies and cell designs for alkaline electrolysis (AEL) and anion-exchange membrane electrolysis (AEM). Link
• Storage & Compression: Solid hydrogen carriers (metal hydrides) from materials to complete storage systems; hydrogen getter devices; thermochemical hydrogen compressors; level sensors. Link
• Powerpaste: Synthesis of hydrogen-storing pastes; devices for the on-demand generation of hydrogen by means of hydrolysis reactions; fuel cell power systems. Link

HyDresden is an initiative founded by Linde Engineering, Sunfire and Fraunhofer IKTS. Its goal is to jointly promote hydrogen technology and to attract specialists in this field. In Germany there is hardly any other place where research and development, technology pioneers and global companies in the field of H2 production and marketing are so close together: If you want to visit the leading H2 companies in Dresden, you only have to walk 2400 steps:

Fraunhofer IKTS conducts applied research on H2 technologies. With its expertise in the development and production of high-temperature electrolysers, PtX plants on a laboratory and pilot scale and the scale-up to demonstration plants, Fraunhofer IKTS makes an important contribution to the development and techno-economic evaluation of H2 technologies along the entire value chain. You will visit our SOEC test center as well as Fischer-Tropsch pilot plant.

Sunfire is a global leader for industrial electrolyzers. With our innovative and proven solutions, we are addressing a key challenge of today’s energy system: Providing renewable hydrogen and Syngas as substitutes for fossil energy sources. Our electrolyzers – based on alkaline and solid oxide (SOEC) technologies – enable the transformation of energy-intensive sectors such as the chemical, fuel and steel industries. During your visit we will present and discuss one of our projects.

Linde Engineering is a global leader in the production, processing, storage and distribution of hydrogen. It has the largest liquid H2 capacity and distribution system in the world. The company also operates the world's first high-purity H2 storage cavern coupled with an unrivalled pipeline network to reliably supply its customers. Linde is at the forefront in the transition to clean H2 and has installed over 180 hydrogen fueling stations and 80 hydrogen electrolysis plants worldwide. Discover the variety of projects during your stay with us and get to know one of them in-depth.

Introduction

The Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Systems IEG carries out research at seven locations in Germany in the fields of integrated energy infrastructures, sector coupling, and the utilization of the subsurface for energetic purposes for a successful energy transition. We develop ideas, technologies, and strategies for the next phase of the transformation of energy systems and see ourselves as independent innovators for politics, businesses, regulatory bodies, and society. Our expertise in the field of energy research is based on the synergy of our team’s competences in the fields of energy technologies, natural science, as well as economics.

Focus topics of our research are in the systemic analysis of and component development for hydrogen systems, energy infrastructures and sector coupling technologies, heat mining and storage, borehole technologies, georesources, CO2-capture as well as the developments of tools and methods for energy systems operation and optimization.

Our diverse laboratories, test beds and observatories form the experimental backbone of our research activities on the transformation of energy systems. Since a significant part of the processes related to the provision and use of geogenic resources takes place at depths that only allow indirect measurement methods, we operate an infrastructure that enables observation of these processes across different spatial and temporal scales. In order to investigate the integration of various renewable energy resources into for the future energy mix through sector coupled s, we are building various test rigs in our energy technology laboratory. For an integrated demonstration of all our technology lines, we are currently developing two field scale laboratories that will enable the transfer from science to application.

Some of the current research projects focusing on green hydrogen are:

• TransHyDE: For a hydrogen economy to take off, the description and development of a storage and transport infrastructure is essential. The hydrogen lead project TransHyDE is developing solutions, how ideal hydrogen infrastructures should be designed in order to create the greatest possible efficiency and resilience.
• H2-Sponge - H2 storage potential of geological rock formations.
• HyPat - Global hydrogen potential atlas for the sustainable hydrogen economy of tomorrow.
• IntegrH2ate - Investigation of the by-products heat and oxygen from PEM electrolysis systems based on theoretical and experimental studies.
• HySupply – Investigation of the different options for the distribution of hydrogen derivates within Germany as the final part of an Australian-German Hydrogen Value Chain

Fields of Research: Link

• Drilling Operation: Link
• Energy Technology: Link
• Geosciences Laboratory: Link
• Geotechnology Laboratory: Link
• Field Scale Laboratory: Link

Introduction

The Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) at the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam conducts research with the goal of understanding, advancing, and guiding processes of societal change towards sustainable development. Our research approach is transformative, transdisciplinary, and co-creative: RIFS researchers collaborate with diverse actors from science, policymaking and public administration as well as business and civil society to develop a common understanding of sustainability challenges and generate potential solutions.

Transformative sustainability research aims to bring together all relevant forms of knowledge generated both within and outside science in order to understand the problems of sustainable development, identify appropriate solutions, and support their implementation in cooperation with relevant actors and affected communities. RIFS involves these stakeholders in its transdisciplinary and co-creative research processes from the outset and does not view them as mere addressees of its research findings. The Institute also discusses its findings with representatives from politics, industry and civil society and supports transformation processes through this kind of consultation.

Research Group on Geopolitics of Transitions in Energy and Industry: Link

A global transition to sustainable energy is accompanied by important changes in the geopolitics and governance of energy. Against this background, the research group investigates how the global energy transition is affecting the international political economy of energy and identifies implications for foreign policy and international cooperation. It focuses in particular on the development of industrial strategies to reach carbon neutrality against the background of increasing geoeconomic rivalry. An important example for this is the development of an international hydrogen economy and related political and economic change. The team combines disciplinary expertise from the fields of political science, economics and the environmental and physical sciences with expert knowledge from practitioners and policy makers in the energy sector. By engaging practitioners from government, business and civil society in our transdisciplinary research processes, we co-create actionable policy proposals and solutions.

Fields of Research: Link

• Politics and Governance of the Global Energy Transition
• Techno-Economic and Political Dimensions of a Global Hydrogen Economy
• Superconducting cables for sustainable energy transition (SCARLET)
• Geopolitics of the Energy Transformation: Sustainability Governance in the Hydrogen Sector

Introduction

The Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) is a senior scientific and technical Federal institute with responsibility to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. It tests, researches and advises to protect people, the environment and material goods.

Safety creates markets. BAM sets and represents high standards for safety in technology and chemistry for Germany and for its global markets, to further develop the successful "Made in Germany" culture of quality. BAM fulfils this role through its dedicated employees. Around 1,550 people from over 55 nations work at BAM.

Hydrogen: creating trust in the energy source of the future. Link

BAM has pooled its expertise in the field of hydrogen technologies to form a Competence Center H2Safety@BAM in order to create confidence in the technology and support the implementation of the hydrogen strategies of the German government and the EU.

Hydrogen and its derivatives such as ammonia, synthetic LNG and eFuels are a central component of the energy transition and the European Green Deal for a climate-neutral Europe. The prerequisites for a successful transformation and the economic use of green hydrogen and its derivatives as clean energy carriers are H2 readiness and a rapid market ramp-up as well as the establishment of the necessary value chains within a national and European framework. Reliable quality and safety standards, in turn, are the prerequisite for ensuring security of supply and environmental compatibility and creating trust in these technologies.

Research into safe hydrogen technologies along the entire value chain

The H2Safety@BAM Competence Center conducts research into safety-related issues along the entire hydrogen value chain. The focus here is particularly on investigations into material suitability and compatibility, new concepts for component safety and testing, certifications, sensor technology and analytics as well as process and plant safety. BAM addresses these issues across all stages of development and scaling up to large and real scale in the real laboratory on the BAM Technical Safety Test Site. We are currently setting up infrastructures there, some of which are unique, in order to optimize digital quality assurance processes using the example of a hydrogen filling station (QI Digital) and to carry out investigations on pipelines and components on a real scale (ModuH2Pipe).

We are also involved in knowledge and technology transfer. For example, we have founded the Trustworthy Hydrogen graduate college together with BTU Cottbus, where we train young scientists for the hydrogen economy.

To promote uniform safety standards worldwide, BAM contributes its expertise to regulation and standardization.

Our fields of competence

• Material properties and compatibility for hydrogen technologies
• Component testing, component safety and approval
• Analytics, sensor technology and certified reference materials
• Process and plant safety

Introduction

TU Berlin has a long and rich tradition and is recognized globally as an excellent research university. Our goal is to continue to develop science and technology for the benefit of our society. The members of the university are wholly committed to the principle of sustainable development which tackles contemporary challenges without further burdening future generations. For us, research and teaching are inseparably linked.

The Electrochemical Catalysis, Energy and Materials Sciences Group.

Our research focuses on materials science and catalysis of nanostructured materials for clean energy storage and conversion technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, high energy density batteries, (photo)electrochemical conversion of solar energy/electricity into fuels and chemicals. Our research contributes to our fundamental understanding of these technologies and their devices.

The Electrochemical Catalysis, Energy and Materials Sciences Group has a special focus on water electrolyzer for green hydrogen and equipped the laboratory with test stations designed for anion exchange membrane (AEM) and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis. Within PEM electrolyzer, the research aim is to minimise the use of the rare and extremely expensive precious metal iridium as a catalyst; within AEM electrolysis, the aim is to test newly developed precious metal-free catalysts on a larger scale. Over the last years, the research of on seawater electrolysis was intensified.

Beside water electrolysis the Electrochemical Catalysis, Energy and Materials Sciences Group focus on fundamental understanding and large-scale commercialization and the exploitation of clean and efficient energy conversion technologies which are limited in part by the lack of usable and viable materials. Additional covered research topics:

• Affordable hydrogen fuel cells require new low-platinum active and stable electrocatalysts and inexpensive stable membranes.
• Alternative batteries (Aluminum batteries) and energy storage systems (Zn-H2)
• Photoelectrocatalytic hydrogen production devices require low photoefficient band gaps in the semiconductors with catalyst coatings for efficient gas evolution.
• Electrocatalytic CO2 capturing and reduction to from platform chemicals like CO, ethanol and ethylene.
• Electrochemical waste recycling (urea synthesis) and biomass utilization.

Within the framework of the German government's National Hydrogen Strategy, our working group was able to acquire several consortium projects. Therefore, research on electrocatalytic production of green hydrogen, in particular directly from seawater, is one of our main priorities. Our aim is to make water electrolysers more efficient and cost-effective in order to contribute to a hydrogen-based energy infrastructure, mobility and industry.

Our projects: Link

• HIGHLANDER
• H2Meer
• Nanofocused X-ray Probes for the Elucidation of Structure-Property-Selectivity Relations of Cu-based eCO2RR Catalysts
• DaCapo
• H2Mare
• Zn-H2
• DACStorE
• ANEMEL
• BRAVA
• Ecofuel
• Among many others that can be consulted using the corresponding link.

Department of Digital Transformation in Energy Systems

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing society today. Tackling this challenge will require a complete reorganisation of the infrastructure necessary to satisfy our energy needs: electricity generators, storage, energy networks, heating supply, transport and industrial processes. In Europe hundreds of billions of euros of spending per year are at stake, and we do not have time to correct misallocations of investment before climate change takes effect. Accurate modelling and simulation of future energy systems are therefore crucial.

Our research at the Department of Digital Transformation in Energy Systems (ENSYS) leverages cutting-edge research from a variety of disciplines to understand the most cost-effective pathways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the energy system. This involves building models of the energy system and optimising the investment in and operation of the necessary infrastructure. Maintaining sufficient model detail and interdependencies is crucial to avoid misallocation of investment and bad policy advice, but it also presents an extreme computational challenge. To tackle this challenge we’re developing new algorithms and methodologies so that we can capture these details in a manageable way and therefore provide the best possible policy guidance for the transition to a sustainable energy future. We also lead the development of the Python for Power System Analysis (PyPSA) open-source energy modelling framework and ecosystem (www.pypsa.org).

Introduction

Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB) researches solutions for a climate-neutral society. Scientists are developing and optimising efficient and cost-effective materials for solar cells, batteries and catalysts. These energy materials are essential components for achieving a CO2 neutral and secure energy supply.

One of our most essential tools is BESSY II light source, which delivers intensely bright light, soft X-rays in particular. Researchers are using this special light to study the structure and function of energy and quantum materials. We are also conducting research on new concepts for accelerator-based light sources and developing new instruments for ever greater measuring precision.

BESSY II attracts an annual average of 2700 visits from guest researchers from 28 countries. They use the light from BESSY II to study, among other things, proteins, storage materials and cultural assets. As the only soft X-ray source in Germany, BESSY II is indispensable for the national and international research community.

Research focuses:

• Photovoltaics
• Thin-film technologies
• Solar Fuels / Catalysis
• Catalysts / Green hydrogen / CO2 conversion / Sustainable Aviation Fuels / Green Fuels
• Battery materials
• Electrochemical energy storage
• Quantum and Functional Materials
• Accelerator Research