(Ulm) – The Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) is being expanded: The second construction phase of the “HyFaB”, called “HyFaB-23”, began with a groundbreaking ceremony on February 2rd in Ulm. A fuel cell model factory with a production hall, seminar and office rooms will be built on an area of around 3.000 square meters.
The ZSW scientists want to work with industry to develop components and manufacturing processes for fuel cell stacks “under near-series conditions.” The construction is scheduled to be completed by March 2023 and put into operation in June 2023. The project is funded with 7,75 million euros from the European Covid-19 Recovery Fund (REACT-EU).
The Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Baden-Württemberg are already supporting the first construction phase of the research factory for hydrogen and fuel cells, which began a year ago 
“HyFaB” with 18,5 million euros. In the building, which is nearing completion after twelve months of construction, the ZSW will open what it says is the “largest independent test field for fuel cells in Europe” in early summer 2022. The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport is providing project funding with industry participation of 30 million euros for HyFaB, of which ten million euros are to be approved this year.
Accompanying companies into the mass market
The ZSW wants to accompany and support companies in order to be able to enter the future mass market. “In the HyFaB, the ZSW is pushing forward the beginning series production of fuel cell stacks with companies from the components and supplier industries,” says Markus Hölzle, head of ZSW activities in Ulm. “HyFaB-2 creates a model factory that is unique in the world and allows individual process steps to be developed independently for different fuel cell stack designs or manufacturers.”
In addition to ZSW, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg and the Association of German Mechanical and Plant Engineering (VDMA) are involved in HyFaB.
Photo above
Visualization of the second construction phase of the research factory for hydrogen and fuel cells. © ZG Architects
First construction phase of HyFaB in November 2021. HyFaB-2 is directly adjacent to the building. © ZSW
