The key challenges facing energy technology in the future are quite clear: conserving resources and protecting the environment. To achieve this, we need innovative processes in the fields of energy conversion, distribution and storage.
At the IEE, experts from a range of disciplines – from electrical and thermal systems to energy economics – teach and conduct research together. In doing so, the institute can draw on the full range of modern technologies for energy generation and utilisation: from fuel cells and combined heat and power plants to geothermal energy, photovoltaics and solar thermal energy.
Experimental facilities:
The H2-Wandel project is driving forward the development of a "green hydrogen" model region in the Mittlere-Alb-Donau region. Various demonstration projects on hydrogen production, storage and transportation are being launched for this purpose. The THU is involved in two key areas: firstly, in the H2-togo lighthouse, which deals with the use of green hydrogen in mobility; and secondly, in the H2-Grid lighthouse, in which the grid-supporting operation of decentralized electrolysis plants is being investigated. As part of H2-Grid, a 20 kW electrolysis plant with an 8 kW fuel cell and a storage unit with 16 kg hydrogen storage capacity was set up at the IEE. Research is now being carried out on this plant into the use of the technology, the interaction of the various components and issues relating to the efficiency of the system.
In collaboration with other partners, the aim is to develop optimized operational management through cross-sector, forecast-based demand management for regional hydrogen logistics. Work at the THU will also aim to integrate the electrolysis plant into the existing Efficiency House Plus. The project is funded by the state of Baden-Württemberg and the EU via the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) program.
The project is researching a decentralized concept that can be implemented in practice for the storage, distribution and use of decentrally produced green hydrogen for sector coupling. The starting point is the need for supporting decentralized hydrogen production and utilization in all sectors, including (rural) regions that cannot be reached via central supply paths. The decisive factor is interoperability, i.e. the combination of different producer, storage and consumer concepts with different technical parameters. The innovation of this project lies in researching practical methods for implementing this interoperability among the stakeholders involved.
"Development of large-scale technical options for the use of green hydrogen based on the grid booster concept to increase grid stability" (HydrogREenBoost)
THU's partners in the HydrogREenBoost project consortium are the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, TransNet BW and the Center for Solar Energy. And Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg. The project is funded by the state of Baden-Württemberg via the "Hydrogen Future Program Baden-Württemberg".
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Raphael Arlitt
Prof. Dr. Walter Commerell
Prof. Dr. oec. Dietmar Graeber
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Florian Klumpp
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jens Konrath
Prof. Gerd Heilscher
Prof. Dr. Michael Lux
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Carsten Mende
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Müller
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Marc-Oliver Otto
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Schlick
Prof. Dr. Stephan Schlüter
