Till Mansmann, Innovation Comissioner for "Green Hydrogen" at the BMBF visits Fraunhofer

On Tuesday, July 30, Till Mansmann, Innovation Commissioner for »Green Hydrogen« at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and development policy spokesperson for the FDP, visited the High Performance Center - Green Materials for Hydrogen, Hesse »GreenMat4H2« in Hanau and Darmstadt. In close cooperation with regional partners, the High Performance Center pools the expertise of the Fraunhofer IWKS and the Fraunhofer LBF in order to develop future-proof concepts for a sustainable, geopolitically independent, efficient and safe hydrogen economy. Till Mansmann gained deep insights into the hydrogen activities in Hessen and gathered important impulses from research and science, which he would like to contribute to the public discourse.

© Fraunhofer IWKS
At Fraunhofer IWKS, "reality is brought into the laboratory" and application-oriented research is carried out. Researchers at Fraunhofer IWKS presented their laboratories and current research priorities in the field of hydrogen to Till Mansmann on July 30.

In the Rhine-Main region and beyond, the High Performance Center - Green Materials for Hydrogen, Hesse has established itself as a competence center and networking platform for players in the hydrogen economy from politics and industry. At the interface with partners from industry and research, Fraunhofer researchers investigate and evaluate the entire life cycle of products and systems in a hydrogen economy - from production, storage and transportation to use and recycling. "A sustainable hydrogen economy opens up enormous opportunities for Germany. It is important to me to bring together innovative ideas and research results with the needs and industrial challenges of hydrogen as the energy of the future. In my role as Commissioner for »Green Hydrogen«, I see myself as a bridge builder who connects science with the funding institutions in order to achieve common goals," explains Till Mansmann.

Hydrogen research close to the needs of industry

The researchers from Fraunhofer IWKS presented their laboratories and current research focuses in the field of hydrogen at their location in Hanau. Using the example of PEM fuel cells for stationary and mobile applications, the scientists explained the optimization and scaling up of processes for the recovery of materials from hydrogen economy systems. They also presented activities for the development of new catalyst materials for more efficient solid oxide electrolyzers and -fuel cells, the aim of which is to increase overall efficiency. The laboratory tour also focused on research into the use of hydrogen in the recycling process for rare earth permanent magnets and their use in energy transition technologies.

Dr. Sven Grieger, Head of the Innovation Transfer Office, also emphasized the importance of application-oriented research during the visit: "The transformation to a hydrogen economy requires even more intensive, application-oriented research in cooperation with industry and the associated public funding."

 

Green Materials for Hydrogen Performance Center - GreenMat4H2

Fraunhofer IWKS and Fraunhofer LBF are pooling their expertise in the »GreenMat4H2« High Performance Center, Hesse to develop concepts for a sustainable, geopolitically independent, efficient and safe hydrogen economy. The entire life cycle of products and systems in a hydrogen economy is taken into account, from production, storage and transportation through to use and recycling. The Fraunhofer LBF is focusing on the reliability and operational stability of systems charged with hydrogen; the Fraunhofer IWKS on the circularity and recyclability of components.

In the Rhine-Main region and beyond, the High Performance Center has established itself as a competence center and exchange platform for players in the hydrogen economy.