Flyer and Brochures - Hydrogen Technologies and Electrical Energy Storage

A detailed understanding of the coupled electro-chemical and thermo-dynamic processes in a fuel cell is a prerequisite for a cost effective and reliable design. We offer a scientifically based characterization of cell components, single cells, fuel cell stacks and peripheral systems. The results are optimized designs, operation strategies and validated models on both the cell and stack level.

Qualified measurement data provide the foundation for successful product development. And objective test results serve as the basis for successful marketing.

Fuel cells will play a significant role in the future energy system. They will be needed, for example, for storage and mobility solutions. Yet, so far, fuel cell production know-how and capacity are limited in Europe. Fraunhofer ISE has been conducting research in fuel cells for almost three decades. The Institute has focused especially on the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) technology as the core of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell.

Fuel cells are highly complex electro-chemical systems. The conversion of chemical into electrical energy involves gas flow and diffusion, phase change processes, charge transport and heat transfer among others. To develop reliable fuel cells and operation strategies, a detailed understanding of these processes and behavior of the single components is necessary.

The term Power-to-Liquids (PtL) denotes the conversion of sustainable hydrogen or syngas into liquid energy carriers such as methanol, oxymethylene ethers (OME) or ammonia. They will be used as platform molecules for the chemical industry, as energy carriers or as clean fuels for combustion engines and turbines in order to reduce both CO2 and soot/NOx emissions.

Powerful electrical energy storage systems are essential for the efficient and reliable use of fluctuating, renewable energy sources as well as for electromobility and portable devices. Depending on these various application scenarios, the requirements for rechargable battery systems can differ tremendously.

The term Power-to-Gas (PtG) describes the conversion of electrical energy (power) into chemical energy (gas) via water electrolysis. The produced hydrogen gas can be used both energetically (e.g. as fuel) and as a feedstock (e.g. in industry). Also the configuration of PtG plants has to be optimized in order to operate them economically.

The electrochemical splitting of water in electrolyzers is a clean and efficient process to generate hydrogen and oxygen. If electricity from renewable energy sources is used, green hydrogen can be generated as a universal fuel that can be stored easily and utilized as required in different applications of the energy economy, transport sector or the chemical industry. Given the strongly fluctuating and steadily increasing supply of electricity from renewable energy sources, hydrogen can promote a reliable energy supply and even enable long-term or seasonal storage in future energy systems.

Hydrogen production by water electrolysis is a clean and efficient approach to convert and store renewable electricity in large amounts. In particular Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) water electrolysis offers several advantages by the coupling with renewable energy sources.

With its long-term experience, Fraunhofer ISE offers a wide array of services including the quality assurance of PV systems, battery system technology and battery storage integration in commercial PV applications as well as in hybrid PV diesel mini-grids.Our support ranges from the identification and analyses of load profiles and the design of the entire power system through to the implementation and operation phase of the facility.