Hunting and Gathering - Processed Hydrogen from Research Projects to Supply Large Appliances Using Electrochemical Compression and Metal Hydrides

• Applicants: Dr.-Ing. Inga Bürger; Professor Dr. Michael Heere; Professor Dr.-Ing. Daniel Schröder
• Subject Area: Energy Process Engineering
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 566288973

Hydrogen (H2) is considered an essential component of the energy transition, but there are considerable challenges in its production and utilisation, particularly in fuel cell technology and electrolysis. Currently, a large proportion of the H2 on offer is not utilised in large appliances, which is either due to a lack of infrastructure or contamination. One example illustrates this: Around 4 tonnes of H2 are delivered to a German research centre in Baden-Württemberg every week, of which around 1.5 tonnes are lost. Without efficient recycling in fuel cells, the conversion rate is only 50-70%. With advanced systems, this rate can be increased to 95-98%, resulting in significant savings. The "JaWoll" project aims to optimise the inefficient use of H2 in large appliances by using gas mixtures with a high H2 content, which are produced in test infrastructures, electrolysers and hydrogen storage facilities, more efficiently. The application includes a feasibility study on an innovative system comprising an electrochemical compressor (EC-K) and a metal hydride compressor (MH-K) as well as a metal hydride H2 storage system (MH-S). This system is to be implemented in future at the Niedersächsisches Forschungszentrum Fahrzeugtechnik (NFF) and the H2-Terminal at the TU Braunschweig. The planned overall system could achieve annual cost savings of 0.5 million euros per application of large-scale H2 appliances and at the same time save several hundred tonnes of CO2 equivalents, for example for 200 kW fuel cells. In addition, energy-intensive sectors such as the steel and chemical industries will also benefit from the results of the project. The research results will be made available as open access or open data. The NFF is currently being developed into an important hydrogen hub in Europe, supported by several subsidised projects, including the H2-Terminal. A 200 kW fuel cell test rig is being set up in the NFF research hall, which will enable synergies with the JaWoll project. By integrating these technologies and optimising the use of hydrogen, the envisaged project can achieve cost savings of around 0.5 Mio. euros per year within a short space of time and achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas potential. With a H2 global warming potential of 5 ± 1, the saving of CO2 equivalents could amount to up to 480 tonnes.

• DFG Programme: Further Instrumentation Related Funding