Current Projects
Here you will find a selection of our current research projects.
EIZ-ESEW
- Full title: Energy Innovation Center (EIZ) of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg
- Sub-project: Energy Storage and Conversion (ESEW)
- Funding agency: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and Investment Bank of the State of Brandenburg (ILB)
- Duration: 08/01/2022 – 07/31/2026
- Project manager at BTU:
- Univ.-Prof. Dr. Lars Röntzsch
- Summary:
In the EIZ-ESEW project, novel noble metal-free catalyst materials for anion exchange membrane electrolysis (AEMEL) are being investigated in order to make an important contribution to the development of the technology from laboratory to industrial scale. Single cells with an active area of up to 360 cm2 are examined (temperature up to 150°C, pressure up to 20 bar, long-term stability up to 1,000 h). Furthermore, an AEMEL short stack is being developed and tested. In addition, a stationary, complete physical model of the AEMEL at the cell level will be developed.
H2BAR
- Full title: Use of hydrogen fuel cell drives in local transport in the district of Barnim, operated with 100% renewable hydrogen
- BTU sub-project: Accompanying research: Green hydrogen production, transport and storage
- Funding agency: ILB Investment Bank of the State of Brandenburg - ZiFoG funds MWAE (No. 80259654)
- Duration: 01/01/2022 – 12/31/2035
- Project partners:
- NEB Betriebsgesellschaft mbH (NEB)
- ENERTRAG EnergieWerk Barnim GmbH & Co. KG (i.G.)
- Barnimer Energiebeteiligungsgesellschaft mbH (BEBG)
- German Aerospace Center (DLR)
- Project managers at BTU:
- Univ.-Prof. Dr. Lars Röntzsch
- Frank Gillung, M.Sc.
- Summary:
The focus of the accompanying research is the reduction of the traction subsidy costs of fuel cell vehicles with the aim of at least achieving cost parity with diesel operation in the near future. The project aims to systematically identify and implement cost reduction potentials at component and overall system level for the entire process chain from generation, processing, storage (BTU) and refueling (DLR) to the use of hydrogen in vehicles (DLR). The research project is intended to show that, unlike operation using overhead lines, CO2-free electrical operation with fluctuating renewable energies is also possible without the expansion of electricity storage, grid expansion or load management and that cost parity with the diesel reference can be achieved in the medium term.
CO2Bi
- Full title: Utilization and storage of fluctuating regenerative energies and CO2 emission reduction - application-oriented qualification of the ABRW process for biomethanation
- Funding agency: Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e. V. (FNR)
- Funding reference: 2220NR200B
- Duration: 11/15/2021 – 05/14/2024
- Project partners:
- BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Chair of Waste Management
- HAVER & BOECKER OHG, Oelde
- Prof. (retired) Dr.-Ing. habil. Gunter Busch, Dresden
- Project managers at BTU:
- Univ.-Prof. Dr. Lars Röntzsch
- Krunal Thummar, M.Sc.
- Summary:
The aim of the project is the integration of biomethanation in the innovative ABRW process (anaerobic bio-reactive permeable wall) in the energy network of wind power plants, emission-intensive industrial processes and biogas/biomethane plants or mechanical-biological waste treatment plants for methane feed into the natural gas network. The central subject is the use of regeneratively produced hydrogen by reacting with CO2 and producing methane that can be fed into the grid. This is intended to promote the indirect use of renewable electricity and to achieve its storage and transport. As a gaseous energy source, fuel or chemical starting material, it can be linked to other sectors and economic cycles. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is directly linked to the technological solution. Instead of separation, CO2 is used in particular, so that one can speak of a real CO2 circular economy.
Interreg VA
- Full title: Energy storage of the future in the Spree-Neiße-Bober region
- Funding agency: Cooperation program Interreg VA Brandenburg-Poland 2014-2020 (European Regional Development Fund)
- Duration: 01/01/2020 – 03/31/2023
- Project partners:
- CEBra – Center for Energy Technology Brandenburg e.V., Cottbus
- University of Zielona Góra, Poland
- City of Zielona Góra, Poland
- Project managers at BTU:
- Univ.-Prof. Dr. Lars Röntzsch
- Dipl.-Ing. Steffen Swat
- Summary:
The Interreg VA program is funding a project for cross-border knowledge transfer in the field of energy storage technologies and energy efficiency. As part of the German-Polish EU funding project, the partners: CEBra - Center for Energy Technology Brandenburg e.V., the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, the University of Zielona Góra and the city of Zielona Góra work closely together. The cooperation of the scientific partners in the Interreg VA project is focused on expanding the range of training courses and knowledge transfer in the field of energy storage technologies and energy efficiency. Specifically, it is about the realization of completely new, in-depth, thematic training offers (several days) on the basis of the additional expansion of training capacities. Integrated into the program is the reciprocal implementation of qualified, target group-oriented, multi-day specialist events in Cottbus and Zielona Góra/Nowy Kisielin. Due to the agreed division of labor/specialization between the two universities, each side can contribute its strengths to the partnership. In this way, it is possible to convey in-depth specialist knowledge. CEBra e.V. and BTU are concentrating on the topic of electrical and chemical storage and are making their training capacities available for this purpose, including the new training positions for the Polish partners. The new project serves to intensify cross-border knowledge transfer as the basis for application-oriented and knowledge-based value creation in the region. The project promotes the development of a common European training and research landscape and strengthens the competitiveness of the region on a European scale.