As part of the kick-off for the "Maritime Future Concept" in Rostock today, plans for the Hydrogen Research Factory were also the subject of discussions. "The establishment of a green hydrogen economy, the development of a carbon cycle economy and the production of electricity-based fuels from green hydrogen and CO2 offer the opportunity to combine climate protection and value creation. The aim is to use electricity generated in the state locally in order to secure high-quality jobs in the state and create new, future-oriented jobs," said Reinhard Meyer, Minister for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labour. At the beginning of the event, the joint project between Fraunhofer and Leibniz was presented in a short video.
The Hydrogen Research Factory MV is a joint venture between the Fraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering IGP, the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT) in Rostock and the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald. This pooling of expertise enables the development of holistic and application-oriented solutions for the transformation to a climate-neutral hydrogen economy. The Research Factory Wasserstoff MV will consist of three cooperating areas, each of which will be the responsibility of one of the participating institutes.
PtX Transfer Technology Centre of the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis in Rostock's Südstadt district
The PtX Transfer Technology Centre of the LIKAT is currently being built in Rostock's Südstadt district and is the first part of the research factory's infrastructure. PtX stands for the production of any substance from sustainably produced electricity. "With our expertise in the development and manufacture of catalysts for the production of climate-friendly fuels, we will provide the basis for the successful establishment of a green hydrogen economy. Our primary goal is to increase the efficiency and production of the respective conversion steps," explains Prof. Mathias Beller, Director of LIKAT. The Catalysis2Scale transfer technology centre building has already been completed and will now be expanded in proportion to the PtX transfer technology centre as part of the Hydrogen MV Research Factory with technical facilities for PtX processes, such as electrolysis and synthesis plants, as well as preparation lines for catalysts or nanomaterials.
PtX plasma development environment at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology
The INP in Greifswald is expanding its research into hydrogen production to include plasmalysis and is developing sustainable technologies ready for application. In addition to hydrogen, other materials are to be integrated into the recycling and energy cycle. "In contrast to the conventional electrolysis process, plasmalysis requires only a fraction of the energy from renewable sources. In addition, urgently needed carbon is produced as a waste product, so to speak. This carbon can then be used in the automotive, aviation, electrical and cosmetics industries, for example," says Prof. Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, Director of the INP. In the first step, the INP will build a laboratory prototype for hydrogen and carbon production using plasma technologies.
Hydrogen Application Centre of the Fraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering IGP
The core element of the Hydrogen Application Centre is a large engine test facility where suitable engine technology for the sustainable industrial use of PtX fuels, particularly in maritime applications, can be developed and tested. The focus is on the combustion of hydrogen as a primary fuel or additive in engines, as well as the combustion of hydrogen derivatives such as methanol or other e-fuels. In addition to testing hydrogen-based fuels and designing alternative drive systems, other key areas of focus include the evaluation and classification of fuels from "green" electricity and the provision of type-independent test bench capacity for external parties. "The development of alternative drive systems on a real-world scale and the conversion of the existing fleet are essential in order to achieve the ambitious climate policy goals as quickly and sustainably as possible," explains Prof. Wilko Flügge, Director of the Fraunhofer IGP.
Extensive investments in the infrastructure of the Hydrogen Research Factory MV are planned for the coming years. The Hydrogen Application Centre is being built in the north of Rostock, in close proximity to the shipyards. Construction is scheduled to begin this year. The site will include a test field for tank structures, a demonstrator based on a ship section and a test hall with a modern office complex. The Greifswald-based INP will also be represented at the application centre with a functional prototype for plasmalysis.
The Hydrogen Research Factory MV is funded by the Ministry of Economics, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labour.
