Hydrogen Lab Görlitz

Structural change with hydrogen

Animation Hydrogen Lab Görlitz
Simulation Hydrogen Lab Leuna
Simulation des Hydrogen Lab Görlitz

The energy transition towards a decarbonized economy is heralding in a profound transformation in energy-intensive industry. To achieve this, a range of technologies must be combined to create a hydrogen value chain, starting with the development of efficient electrolyzers and fuel cells for mobile and stationary applications, via practicable methods for storage and transport right up to the cost-effective series production of such systems. In order to develop holistic solutions for this range of topics, Fraunhofer IWES and Fraunhofer IWU are constructing the Hydrogen Lab Görlitz (HLG) together, which is being funded by the Free State of Saxony and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). In close cooperation with Siemens Energy, the transformation process of the Siemens manufacturing site should develop into an innovation epicenter in the heart of the brown coal region and serve as a blueprint for the successful structural change right across Germany.

 

The HLG will provide a research and development platform for the power-to-H2-to-power value chain, which is crucial in the industrial and mobility sectors.

To this end, a chain of electrolyzers, pipeline systems, H2 storage units and fuel cells with a total capacity of 12.3 MW will be installed. In this chain, individual links can be replaced by test plants and prototypes for the purpose of evaluating their real-world operation in the overall context of the value chain – without having to rebuild the entire chain for individual development projects.

In addition to the development of production technologies for electrolyzers and fuel cells suitable for large-scale production, the research activities focus on the digitalization of hydrogen technology. The modeling of individual components and their digital integration into a virtual overall model along defined interfaces allows for a distributed development of optimized plants, which will be supported by modern database systems. At the same time, sensors for real-time monitoring of both the production and the operation of electrolyzers and fuel cells will be developed to ensure quality and durability, detect faults at an early stage and initiate countermeasures by comparison with databases.

Overview of services

  • H2 production: 12.3 MW building connection capacity, electrolyzer for generation of pure H2 for different test purposes, flexible electrolysis stack test benches up to 2 MW with subsequent compression, storage, and conversion to electricity via existing H2 plant technology, flexible electrolysis stack test bench up to 46 kW with climate chamber and vibrating table.
  • H2 processing, systems, and equipment: Infrastructure for the analysis and testing of different H2 components.
  • H2 storage: Central hydrogen storage for the flexible distribution of pure hydrogen, test fields for the testing of H2 storage units (pipe containers, etc.).
  • H2 utilization: High-performance fuel cell for cost-efficient conversion of the hydrogen generated by the test fields into electricity, prospectively planned test benches for fuel cell stacks in different power classes and application areas. 
  • Simulation: Planned knowledge database with models and measurement data along the entire length of the hydrogen value chain for the precise design and integration of H2 components.
Logo Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action