Eight Million Euros in Funding for Hydrogen Research in Chemnitz
Saxon Ministry of Science supports Chemnitz University of Technology and Fraunhofer IWU Chemnitz in research on the use of hydrogen for mobility, industry, and heat as well as energy storage
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Following the inauguration of a high-performance test rig for fuel cell research in 2019, the starting signal for further extensive funding of hydrogen and fuel cell research in Chemnitz is now sounding. In the picture: Prof. Dr. Thomas von Unwerth (right), holder of the Chair of Advanced Powertrains at Chemnitz University of Technology and head of the Innovation Cluster HZwo e. V., and his scientific assistant Dipl.-Ing. Vladimir Buday. Buday received an award in 2020 for a novel process for fuel cell production. Photo: Picture archive of the press office and cross-media editorial staff/Ronald Bartel
Hydrogen can and should become the energy carrier of the future in Saxony. The Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism (SMWK) therefore supports the research needed to achieve this goal.
Chemnitz University of Technology and the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU Chemnitz will receive a total of eight million euros to conduct research into the use of hydrogen for mobility, industry, and heat as well as for energy storage. The funding comes from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This measure is co-financed by tax money based on the budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament.
Minister of Science Sebastian Gemkow:
"With the help of new equipment, the performance of Chemnitz University of Technology and Fraunhofer IWU will be further increased and the existing excellence in hydrogen research will also be strengthened. In the meantime, a competitive technology center has been established here, which develops sustainable hydrogen solutions in close cooperation with regional companies and the Saxon innovation cluster HZwo. The nature of industrial production will change dramatically - towards more environmental friendliness and towards completely new products. Research is creating the conditions for this."
Six million euros of the total funding will go to Chemnitz University of Technology. Here, scientists are working on the fuel cell components and systems of the future, which are to make hydrogen usable as a drive for a wide range of applications. The research also deals with the hydrogen value chain, from production and transport to application. In addition, research is being conducted into how the generation, storage and consumption of energy in innovative, sector-coupled systems interact with each other and can be intelligently controlled.
Prof. Dr. Gerd Strohmeier, President of Chemnitz University of Technology:
"In recent years, Chemnitz has developed into a center of research in the field of hydrogen and fuel cells at breathtaking speed. The innovation cluster "HZwo - Propulsion for Saxony" acts as an essential incubator. The funding, for which we would like to thank the Free State of Saxony and the European Union most sincerely, will make a significant contribution to the further advancement of Chemnitz research on this extremely important future topic."
Prof. Dr. Welf-Guntram Drossel, Director of the Fraunhofer IWU:
"To achieve this, energy management concepts must be rethought. We have many years of experience in this research area and are looking for the optimal combination of wind turbines, hydrogen production plants, and control systems for an innovative energy supply of production plants." In addition, mobile utilization concepts and the further development of components for fuel cells for large-scale production are the subject of research at Fraunhofer IWU.
Fraunhofer IWU is researching into reducing CO2 emissions from industrial plants. As a clean energy supplier and storage medium, hydrogen is a technology of the future. The goal is a climate-neutral factory.
Based on the subsidized investments, Chemnitz University of Technology and Fraunhofer IWU are also participating in the Clean Energy City project in Chemnitz. This project aims to establish a local energy system on the basis of hydrogen. This will make energy production and consumption of mobility, industry, heating, and housing independent of fossil fuels in the long term and significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
Prof. Dr. Thomas von Unwerth, holder of the Professorship of Advanced Powertrains at Chemnitz University of Technology and head of the Innovation Cluster HZwo e. V.:
"We are very pleased about this grant, it supports our work in the field of hydrogen and fuel cells to a considerable extent. With this help, complementary equipment will be made possible, which will allow a more comprehensive research of the necessary cross-sectoral processes and systems to restructure the value chain within the hydrogen strategy."
Prof. Dr. Markus Richter, holder of the Professorship of Applied Thermodynamics at Chemnitz University of Technology:
"This funding lays an important foundation for cooperative research projects at Chemnitz University of Technology in the field of hydrogen technologies and sector coupling. It complements our research infrastructure to such an extent that a wide variety of studies will be possible in the first place."
Dr. Jens Teuscher, research associate at the Chair of Energy and High Voltage Technology (Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schufft) at Chemnitz University of Technology:
"The coupling of hydrogen technologies with the electrical energy system will be an essential building block for future regenerative electrical power generation. With the approved research infrastructure, precisely this complex interface can be comprehensively investigated."
Background: Hydrogen and fuel cell research at Chemnitz University of Technology and Fraunhofer IWU
The Innovation Cluster HZwo - Antrieb für Sachsen is the Saxon competence center for fuel cells and green hydrogen and manages a comprehensive value-added network in the Free State. Chemnitz University of Technology is one of the founding members, Prof. Dr. Thomas von Unwerth heads the cluster
Chemnitz University of Technology is a member of "Hydrogen Europe", Europe's largest research network for hydrogen research.
At Chemnitz University of Technology, a new type of additive production for the core components of a fuel cell has been awarded the Best Innovation 2020 Award.
Task force Hydrogen@IWU for the development of new technological production solutions for hydrogen system components.
Multimedia: In the podcast series TUCscicast, Prof. Thomas von Unwerth talks about research on fuel cells and the future of mobility (season 2, episode 2): www.mytuc.org/drql (German)
Contact us: Falk Lange, Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism, phone +49 (0) 351 564-60200, mobile 0172 7978062, e-mail falk.lange@smwk.sachsen.de, and Prof. Dr. Thomas von Unwerth, Professorship of Advanced Powertrains at Chemnitz University of Technology and head of the Innovation Cluster HZwo e. V., phone +49 (0) 371 531-23550, e-mail thomas.von-unwerth@mb.tu-chemnitz.de
(Author: SMWK / Matthias Fejes / Translation: Chelsea Burris)
Matthias Fejes
09.12.2020
