Opening of the Hydrogen Integration Platform
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has taken a significant step in hydrogen research with the institution of the Hydrogen Integration Platform (HIP). This comprehensive research infrastructure is intended to close the gap between laboratory-scale experiments and practical applications in energy systems. This state-of-the-art facility on KIT's Campus North is the result of years of planning and collaboration between several research institutes and positions the research infrastructure at the forefront of European hydrogen technology research.
Liquid hydrogen production on a large scale
The heart of the HIP is a high-performance liquefaction plant that processes over 50 kilograms of hydrogen every day. This makes it the largest non-commercial hydrogen liquefaction system in Germany.
However, the decisive aspect is not just the quantity of hydrogen: the plant enables researchers to conduct experiments under realistic industrial application scenarios that could not be replicated in conventional laboratory environments.
The plant not only supplies other users on campus with liquid hydrogen, but is also available to partners from industry and science outside KIT.
AppLHy! liquefying hydrogen and utilizing synergies
The AppLHy! project, an integral part of the hydrogen lead project TransHyDE, demonstrates the entire hydrogen value chain from liquefaction, transport and storage through to application. Experiments that combine cryogenic liquid hydrogen with superconducting technologies are particularly innovative - for example in a hybrid energy pipeline that simultaneously transports electricity and liquid hydrogen in a highly efficient and compact way. A demonstration pipeline is currently being built on the HIP site.
H2-in-the-loop: Hydrogen energy storage for flexible and stable grids
The H2-in-the-loop laboratory offers the unique opportunity to realistically simulate and investigate the effects of hydrogen energy storage on the energy grid in real time. The researchers use a 50 kW electrolyzer and a 10 kW fuel cell system for this purpose. The resulting models should enable Europe-wide power grids that are supplied 100% from renewable energies and can react flexibly to grid fluctuations at the same time.
H2-Rail: Building and testing a hybrid battery-hydrogen train
The H2-Rail infrastructure is a joint transfer-to-industry project between KIT and Siemens Mobility, in which a real hybrid battery-hydrogen freight train is being replicated. Various configurations of fuel cells and batteries or even innovative prototypes for energy management are implemented directly in the train without further factory tests. Various scenarios such as climate zones or gradient profiles can then be simulated and tested in real time.
AEMflex: the next generation of electrolyzers
The AEMflex project is investigating a promising new method for producing hydrogen: anion exchange membrane electrolysis (AEM). This should not only be cheaper than the currently dominant technologies, it also promises higher performance and reliability. To this end, a modular 200 kW AEM electrolyzer is being developed, built and validated under realistic operating conditions as part of the project. The researchers hope that this will pave the way for the next generation of green hydrogen production.
Program
| 2:00 p.m. | Welcome |
| Professor Oliver Kraft, Vice President Academic Affairs of KIT | |
| Professor Tabea Arndt and Professor Giovanni De Carne, ITEP | |
| Technical contribution by industry partner TBD | |
| 2:30 pm | Presentation and technical introduction of the four HIP sub-projects |
| AppLHy! liquefying hydrogen and utilizing synergies | |
| H2-in-the-Loop: Hydrogen energy storage for flexible and stable grids | |
| H2-Rail: Construction and testing of a hybrid battery-hydrogen train | |
| AEMflex: The next generation of electrolyzers | |
| 3:10 pm | Break with coffee and cake |
| 3:40 pm | Ceremonial opening of the Hydrogen Integration Platform |
| 4:00 pm | Guided tour of the facility |