(Hanover) – From May onwards, the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture is funding five climate-friendly green hydrogen projects. A total of six million euros will be awarded. In a first step, the five research associations will each receive around 1,2 million euros for the next three years. As “innovation laboratories,” they are intended to purposefully bundle the various competencies in hydrogen technologies and “significantly further develop and strengthen hydrogen research in Lower Saxony,” according to a statement.
H2 signpost Lower Saxony
The project examines how a hydrogen-based energy storage and conversion system of the future can be specifically designed in Lower Saxony, which technical variants are advantageous and what influence legal, ecological and economic aspects have, according to a project overview from the Energy Research Center of Lower Saxony (EFZN). At a technical level, particular consideration should be given to the underground storage of hydrogen in caverns and pore storage, both as an alternative and in combination with conversion processes for the production of chemical energy sources.
Involved: Clausthaler Environmental Technology Research Center (CUTEC), TU Clausthal, Leibniz University Hannover, Institute for Solar Energy Research Hameln (ISFH)
Innovation laboratory for water electrolysis – from material to system (InnoEly)
The project deals with the process of electrolysis. The goal is significantly more efficient hydrogen production. The scientists are developing a new type of catalyst unit that can be used to generate hydrogen from electricity in a very efficient manner. It can then be converted back into electricity using fuel cells. “To put it simply, 100 watts of electricity currently produce around 20 watts of hydrogen,” says the short version of the EFZN. The aim is to increase this efficiency from 20 percent to 75 percent.
Involved: Leibniz University of Hannover, TU Braunschweig, TU Clausthal, University of Oldenburg, DLR Institute for Networked Energy Systems Oldenburg, Institute for Solar Energy Research Hameln (ISFH), Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute Goslar
Thermal management of H2 filling stations (THEWA)
The scientists want to research and provide optimized system concepts for future hydrogen filling stations. The focus is on refueling cars, buses and trucks. For this purpose, an interdisciplinary software tool network is being developed and used for the development and network planning of hydrogen filling station systems. At the same time, various gas station components are examined and optimized theoretically and experimentally in order to increase efficiency and performance, according to the EFZN.
Involved: the institutes for thermodynamics, for automotive industry and industrial production, for construction technology and for internal combustion engines at the TU Braunschweig, Lower Saxony Research Center for Vehicle Technology (NFF)
H2 Region Northwest Lower Saxony (H2 ReNoWe)
The focus is on the production and use of sustainably produced green hydrogen in a new storage power plant structure. The project aims to “make a contribution to the sustainable hydrogen economy in the Wesermarsch region”. To achieve this, the aim is to convert the Huntorf compressed air energy storage power plant into a CO₂-preventing mode of operation. According to the EFZN, research focuses include “the production and storage of hydrogen from renewable energies on site as well as its contribution to the electricity supply through reconversion into electricity in the existing gas turbine”. To do this, one could build on the existing infrastructure at the Huntorf location and thus integrate the developed scenarios into the region. (Editor's note: The energy suppliers EWE and Uniper announced a few days ago that they would have one in Huntorf Hydrogen hub to establish.)
Involved: DLR Institute for Networked Energy Systems, TU Clausthal, the DLR Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, the power plant operator Uniper and the electrolysis manufacturer FEST
Sustainable hydrogen combustion concepts
The project investigates how hydrogen can be used in clean combustion engines. The aim is to “drive engines in a climate-neutral way”. In about three to five years, development could be such that near-production engines would be available. Another sub-project is about being able to use stored hydrogen to compensate for short-term power fluctuations within 15 seconds in reserve power plants.
Involved: Leibniz University Hannover, TU Braunschweig, TU Clausthal, Jade University Wilhelmshaven, Physical-Technical Federal Institute (PTB)
The first phase of the “Innovation Laboratories for Hydrogen Technologies” tender was launched at the beginning of July 2020. The scientists involved received around 500.000 euros to develop detailed research approaches. Now the associations will concretely implement their research ideas in order to tap the market potential of hydrogen, according to the Ministry of Science. The innovative proposals presented offer the opportunity to “invest in our future,” said Minister Björn Thümler. “We are now starting to specifically develop application-oriented projects.” Close collaboration with industrial partners is important.
The Lower Saxony Energy Research Center (EFZN) was founded in 2007 to focus energy research activities in the state. It is a joint scientific center of the universities of Braunschweig, Clausthal, Göttingen, Hanover and Oldenburg.
Photos
EWE AG and Uniper SE want to build a 20 megawatt electrolysis plant in Huntdorf. The nearby EWE gas storage facility (photo) is part of the “H2ReNoWe” research project / © EWE AG
