Bavarian consortium submits application for national hydrogen technology center
The HI ERN strengthens the consortium - alongside FAU and TUM - as a research partner.
Markt Pfeffenhausen - 128,000 square meters of space where the future may begin. A first step was made: On January 15, 2021, the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy decided to put the market town of Pfeffenhausen in the district of Landshut into the running as a possible location for the planned national Hydrogen Technology Application Center (WTAZ).
The application submitted by Hynergy, TÜV SÜD, MR Plan, TesTneT, Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik, Technische Universität München, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Helmholtz Institut Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energies (consortium) describes an integrated concept of the WTAZ as a research, development, testing, certification and standardization center for hydrogen technologies originating from Germany for the world market. The Pfeffenhausen market is located in the wind and sun belt of the Hallertau region and provides ideal conditions for green hydrogen. There is a good chance that the HyPerformer region HyBayern in the Landshut district will play an essential role in the transformation of the German supplier industry towards emission-free hydrogen vehicle technologies.
Two research departments of HI ERN involved
At HI ERN, the departments of Electrocatalysis (Prof. Karl Mayrhofer) and Electrocatalytic Interface Engineering EGV (Prof. Simon Thiele) will be involved. The research focus of the department "Electrocatalysis" is on the further development of the material and process engineering fundamentals of electrolytic water splitting by means of PEM electrolysis. The research department EGV focuses on technical interfaces of electrocatalytic devices.
Prof. Karl Mayrhofer, Director of HI ERN: "The WTAZ is a central technological exchange platform between the excellent Bavarian academic partners and industrial companies on key themes of a future hydrogen-based energy system. It will significantly accelerate the transfer of knowledge around material development, component manufacturing and system design into broad application and thus significantly upgrade Bavaria as a location for the commercialization of hydrogen technologies for sustainable energy conversion and storage." According to Prof. Karl Mayrhofer, HI ERN will contribute its proven expertise, especially in the field of operando material and electrode characterization, performance evaluation, and the crucial issue of long-term stability in the operation of electrolyzers and fuel cells.
The advancement of key innovations
As part of the National Hydrogen Strategy (NWS), the WTAZ is intended to accelerate the technology transfer from research to industry and offer companies consistent support, starting with applied research through development, testing and certification through to standardization. The tasks are multi-layered. The WTAZ aims to promote key German innovations with short- and medium-term market entry potential in hydrogen technology.
To do so, it uses three facility levels and external partnerships, ensures a hydrogen infrastructure with a direct connection to the Green Electrolyzer of the HyPerformer region HyBayern, operates testing and certification facilities with a national and global unique selling point, and draws on very broad support from industry, associations and corporate bodies. In the future, the WTAZ will help shape global standards, support small and medium-sized enterprises in the transition to hydrogen technology, and create a German hydrogen startup landscape.
In the four competence centers "Research & Development," " Testing & Validation," " Analysis & Certification," and "Standardization & Internationalization," all areas of hydrogen are to be researched, advanced, and developed to market readiness. Eight consortium partners, 40 supporting companies, eight research partners and seven corporate bodies are already among the group of applicants.
In addition, there are five organizations and associations as well as political support - and the trend is growing. Further objectives of the WTAZ are to accelerate key innovations in hydrogen technology with short- and medium-term market entry potential, to activate small and medium-sized enterprises in this field and to secure the current technology leadership.
Personell
Prof. Dr. Karl Mayrhofer
Director and Head of Research Department
Telefon: +49 9131-12538205
E-Mail: k.mayrhofer@fz-juelich.de
Prof. Simon Thiele
Head of Research Department
Telefon: +49 9131-12538232
E-Mail: si.thiele@fz-juelich.de