HyCATT - Hydrogen Center for Applied Technologies and Transformation

The project HyCATT – Hydrogen Center for Applied Technologies and Transformation establishes a new research focus for applied hydrogen technologies at ZeMA. The starting point is the takeover of Robert Bosch's hydrogen infrastructure at the Homburg site, which makes it possible to research and further develop the entire hydrogen value chain - from production, storage and distribution to use - under real operating conditions.
The aim of the project, which will last up to ten years, is to develop innovative technologies and system solutions for industrial hydrogen applications and thus contribute to the industrial transformation.

problem

For the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industrial processes as well as for the integration of renewable energies, hydrogen is regarded as a central energy source and raw material. At the same time, there are still technical and economic challenges along the entire hydrogen value chain to achieve a sustainable hydrogen economy. These include the efficient integration of electrolysers and storage systems, the development and implementation of hydrogen utilisation systems and the safe handling of hydrogen in industrial plants. Dynamic operation management in the event of fluctuating energy availability as well as questions of scalability and cost-effectiveness are also part of application-oriented research. In order to develop solutions to these problems, there is a lack of research infrastructure in which complex hydrogen systems, modules and components can be developed, investigated and optimized under practical conditions.

objective

The HyCATT project is establishing a research area for applied hydrogen technologies at ZeMA. This creates capacities for application-oriented research, technology development, innovation and optimisation. The H2Systems Lab, the company's own H2 infrastructure, develops application-oriented solutions for the economical and scalable generation, storage, transport and use of hydrogen. In addition, overarching challenges of integration, operation and security are being researched.
To this end, a research platform is to be established that allows both the development and design of innovative hydrogen systems and their experimental investigation in real plant operation.
In addition, the project is intended to support companies in the introduction of hydrogen-based technologies and thus contribute to the transformation of industrial value chains.

approach

As part of the project, the existing hydrogen infrastructure will be expanded into an open research platform and further technology demonstrators will be added. This makes it possible to map the entire hydrogen value chain realistically and to test the integration of new technologies under real conditions.
In addition, model-based methods, simulation-based system analyses and experimental investigations are used to enable innovations at the level of the overall systems and modules and to further optimize these technologies.
The interdisciplinary and partnership-based cooperation with other industry and research partners is essential in order to develop both technical innovations and systemic solutions for future hydrogen applications.

Recovery concept

The technologies and findings developed in the project are to be transferred specifically into industrial applications. HyCATT represents the interface between research, industry and politics and supports companies in the Greater Region in the development, validation and implementation of new hydrogen solutions. Through demonstrations under real operating conditions, technologies can be evaluated, optimized and converted into marketable applications more quickly. At the same time, the project contributes to the qualification of skilled workers, the strengthening of regional innovation structures and the positioning of the Saarland as a location for applied hydrogen research.

Contact:

Lennard Margies: lennard.margies@zema.de

Category: HyCATT - Hydrogen

Other projects