The Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) in Ulm wants to make the fuel cell ready for mass production with a research factory. The 70-million-euro project is scheduled to go into operation in 2024 and be funded by the federal, state and industry. This was announced by ZSW Managing Director Ludwig Jörissen in Ulm.
Politics promotes research
On Thursday, Parliamentary State Secretary Steffen Bilger from the Federal Ministry of Transport paid a visit to the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research. According to Bilger, they want to be at the forefront of all alternative propulsion technologies, including the hydrogen car. Of the 41 million euros funding for Baden-Württemberg also flow a lot of money to Ulm.
Nationwide filling station network is coming
In Germany there are so far 60 hydrogen filling stations, including one on the Ulmer donkey mountain. This year there will be 100 and a total of 400 gas stations. This would give a nationwide network. “Things are progressing a lot,” says Steffen Bilger.
Development faltered
In recent years, however, the fuel cell development faltered. The environmentally friendly drive, where hydrogen is fueled and converted into electrical energy, hardly got any momentum. Often there is a dry spell, if developments take longer than expected, so Ludwig Jörissen from ZSW.
The battery-powered electric drive is currently at an advantage, which, according to Jörissen, lies primarily in the Asian market. But CDU politician Steffen Bilger stressed again on Thursday that battery research will not be preferred here. The Ulm Research Factory could help catch up.
Power-to-gas lighthouse project in Grenzach-Wyhlen selected
The Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology promotes the further development of hydrogen technologies under real conditions and on an industrial scale in the “ideas competition Real laboratories of the energy transition”.
On 18 July 2019, Minister Peter Altmaier announced the winners of the first round of tenders: The shortlist also included the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW).
With industrial partners, including the project coordinator Energiedienst AG, the institute wants to optimize the production of renewable hydrogen and the subsequent cross-sectoral use at an existing power-to-gas plant in Grenzach-Wyhlen in southern Baden.
In the next step, the partners can now apply for research funding.
