New Staff Member

Cottbus, September 2, 2024

Greetings! My name is Udaya Bhaskara Ramakrishna Siripalli, and I hold a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad. My doctoral research focused on the design and development of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) and the synthesis of carbon-supported electrocatalysts for proton exchange membrane water electrolysis. As of September 2024, I have joined the Chair of Thermal Energy Technology at BTU as an academic staff member. In this role, my research responsibilities include developing Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs) using noble metal-free catalysts and membrane materials. This work involves evaluating and optimizing their performance in single-cell and five-cell stacks of Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) water electrolyzers, with the aim of developing efficient AEM systems.


New Staff Member

Cottbus, September 2, 2024

Hello, my name is Andreas Bürger, and I am excited to join the POWER-2-RESCUE project as a research associate starting in September 2024. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (B.Eng.) and a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering (M.Eng.) from BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. My professional career began in 1994 at FH Lausitz, later Hochschule Lausitz (FH), and eventually led me to BTU. In parallel, I am responsible for the Control Engineering Fundamentals Laboratory and the Control Technology Laboratory at Faculty 3 on the Senftenberg Campus. In addition to my work in teaching and research, I have been involved in numerous third-party funded projects in the fields of measurement and automation technology, control technology, and quality assurance. Furthermore, I am a certified first responder and fire safety officer, and since 2020, I have been representing the group of other staff members in the BTU Senate. I also serve as the deputy chair of the Senate Commission for Structure and Development. Voluntarily, I am active as the treasurer and project manager at the Institute for Environmental Technology and Recycling Senftenberg e.V.


Visit by Federal Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger to the Hydrogen Research Center at BTU: Progress in Electrolysis Research Impresses

Cottbus, August 12, 2024

Federal Minister for Education and Research, Bettina Stark-Watzinger, visited Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) today and was impressed by the advancements at the Energy Innovation Center Cottbus (EIZ). The visit provided the Minister with an opportunity to gain a comprehensive view of the dynamic developments driven by research and innovation that are advancing structural change in the Lausitz region.

At the Hydrogen Research Center of BTU, Prof. Dr. Lars Röntzsch and Dr. Shiva Kumar Sampangi, accompanied by BTU President Prof. Dr. Gesine Grande, presented the latest work on hydrogen production through electrolysis. Research in this field plays a central role in the development of sustainable energy systems and highlights BTU’s significance as a driver of technological progress in the region.


New Staff Member

Cottbus, July 2, 2024

Hello! My name is Nelu Sprater. I hold a university degree (Dipl.-Ing.) in Iron and Steel Metallurgy (TU Bergakademie Freiberg, 2015-2020). Additionally, I have studied Mathematics (2014-2015) and Technical Cybernetics and Systems Theory (2020-2024) at TU Ilmenau. My areas of interest include the modeling, simulation, optimization, control, and automation of technical processes, particularly in the steel industry, thermal process engineering, and electrical energy technology. I have also delved deeply into the analysis and numerical methods of partial differential equations as well as the mathematical systems theory of infinite-dimensional systems. To ensure a high practical relevance of my work, I conducted the majority of my research projects in the industry. It has always been important to me to connect mathematically sound theory with the actual applicability of the results. In this context, I recently focused intensively on system identification, which involves estimating unknown system parameters using data-driven methods. As of July 1, 2024, I have taken up a position as an Academic Staff Member in the Chair of Thermal Energy Technology at BTU. Here, I will be involved in process simulation of electrolysis plants for hydrogen production. This field allows me to optimally combine my acquired knowledge in process engineering, physical chemistry, electrical engineering, materials science, numerical simulation, and cybernetics. Furthermore, hydrogen will continue to gain immense importance in energy technology and the steel industry, which is undergoing the greatest transformation in its history. In addition to my scientific activities, I will also take on teaching responsibilities in the department and will offer the course on Energy Conversion in the winter semester of 2024/25.


New BMDV Project POWER-2-RESCUE

Cottbus, July 1, 2024

With the participation of BTU, the new BMDV project POWER-2-RESCUE has been launched today. The project, led by the Björn Steiger Foundation and in collaboration with the Brandenburg Institute for Society and Security, examines the impact of the mobility transition on emergency services, fire departments, and disaster management in the 'Health Model Region Lusatia'. This initiative is driven by the impending end of the approval of internal combustion engines in the EU, necessitating the introduction of alternative propulsion technologies for authorities and organizations with security tasks (BOS). This requires new decision-making bases for municipalities and districts, as well as early information for manufacturers about future investment needs. As part of the project, a feasibility study will be conducted to explore approaches for environmentally friendly propulsion systems and the necessary refueling and charging infrastructure for emergency vehicles used by fire departments, emergency services, and disaster management. The foundation will be data and scientific forecasts provided by end-users to develop practical solutions. Two expert workshops with end-users will be held to develop practical and innovation-oriented content, identify needs, and propose solutions. This will form the basis for a subsequent exploratory project. A literature review will support the socio-economic contextualization of the topic, and the findings will be published in a study. Finally, the results will be discussed and evaluated in a workshop with manufacturers and equipment suppliers. The project focuses particularly on the Lusatia region, which faces significant economic restructuring due to the planned phase-out of lignite by 2038. At the same time, the reform of the hospital structure and emergency care requires an adaptation of regional infrastructures to ensure reliable public services. POWER-2-RESCUE is the first nationwide project to comprehensively and openly address the future operational capability of BOS institutions in the face of the energy transition. It provides early decision-making aids for investments in the emergency services of the future.


New Staff Member

Cottbus, April 16, 2024

Greetings! My name is Harshit Sanjaybhai Dhanani, and I recently earned a master's degree in Power Engineering from BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. Since June 2022, I have been employed as a student research assistant at BTU Cottbus, specifically with the Chair of Thermal Energy Technology. Recently, I successfully completed my master's thesis, which involved modeling, validating, and simulating a PEM water electrolysis system that utilizes renewable energy sources. The Ebsilon Professional Software was used for this purpose. As of April 2024, I am now an academic staff member at BTU at the Chair of Thermal Energy Technology. I am involved in two ongoing research projects, namely H2BAR and CLEANHYPRO. I am committed to acquiring and exchanging further knowledge and expertise in the field of hydrogen, and to achieving experimental and simulation-based progress in implementing sustainable hydrogen-based energy solutions that contribute to a clean environment. I am particularly looking forward to sharing ideas and learning from the existing team participating in the projects assigned to me.


Defence of Harshit Dhanani's master's thesis on March 22, 2024

Cottbus, March 7, 2024

The Chair of Thermal Energy Technology invites you to present the following master's thesis:

Student: Harshit Dhanani

Topic: "Modeling, Validation, and Simulation of the Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis (PEMWE) System with Renewable Energy Sources Using the Ebsilon Professional Software"

Responsible professor: Prof. Dr. Lars Röntzsch

Scientific supervisor: Krunal Thummar, M.Sc.

Location: Building FZ3E, Room 0.26

Date and time: Friday, March 22nd, 2024, at 11:00

The defence will be conducted in English.


New Staff Member

Cottbus, December 4, 2023

Hello! My name is Sayantan Jana and I have recently earned a doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati. My Ph.D. Thesis work was focused on the development of metal hydride based hydrogen storage and cooling systems for off-grid applications. As of 4th December 2023, I joined the department of Thermal Energy Technology at BTU as an academic staff member. In this role, my responsibilities encompass a dual commitment to teaching and research. I will be involved in teaching masters’ degree courses like Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, Power Plant Technology etc. As far as research is concerned, my primary focus is to design and develop novel solid-state hydrogen carrier systems suiting the requirement of simultaneously integrating with fuel cells and electrolysers. Apart from hydrogen storage, I also aim to develop efficient, low-cost hydrogen purification and compression systems with metal hydrides.


State Secretary Michael Kellner Explores the Energy Innovation Center and Emphasizes the Significance of Hydrogen

On October 17, 2023, State Secretary Michael Kellner from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) paid a visit to the Energy Innovation Center (EIZ). The central theme of his visit was the successful transformation of the entire region and the strategies to enhance public acceptance of renewable energy.

During his stay, State Secretary Kellner gained insights into the work of the EIZ team at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. He was warmly welcomed by BTU President Prof. Dr. Gesine Grande, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Johannes Schiffer, the project leader of the EIZ, and Dr. Jakob Pohlisch, the operational project manager of the EIZ. After a brief introduction to the EIZ, the delegation proceeded to the research laboratories, where two of them showcased their work.

State Secretary Kellner was particularly impressed by the research findings presented by Dr. Shiva Kumar Sampangi in the ESC-Lab of the Hydrogen Research Center, which is under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Lars Röntzsch in the field of Thermal Energy Technology. In his remarks, Kellner underscored the high relevance of this project and BTU's role in the successful regional transformation, extending its importance beyond the immediate region. Thus, the State Secretary's keen interest in hydrogen and its applications takes center stage in this visit to the Energy Innovation Center.


New Staff Member

Cottbus, October 9, 2023

Greetings, I'm Hesham Mahfouz, and I'm excited to introduce myself as a research scientist at the Department of Thermal Energy Technology, where I've been engaged in the EU project PEACE (Pressurized Efficient Alkaline Electrolyser) since October 2023. The primary objective of the project is to advance the development of an efficient alkaline electrolysis system (AEL) that excels under high-pressure conditions, specifically targeting an operational pressure of up to 90 bar. My role encompasses a range of responsibilities, including optimizing the balance of plant, assembling, operating, and demonstrating this innovative technology to validate its ability to meet its performance benchmarks.


New EU Project CLEANHYPRO

Cottbus, October 1, 2023

With the participation of BTU, the new EU project CLEANHYPRO (Open Innovation Test Bed for Electrolysis Materials for Clean Hydrogen Production) has been launched today. CLEANHYPRO brings together some of the most esteemed research institutions in Europe in the field of water electrolysis. CLEANHYPRO aims to provide several key resources:

  • Production Pilots: The project offers access to promising and groundbreaking production pilots.

  • Advanced Characterization Techniques and Modeling: Advanced techniques and modeling capabilities are available for characterization.

  • Non-Technical Services: In addition to technical resources, CLEANHYPRO also offers non-technical services.

This Open Innovation Test Bed serves as a central hub for stakeholders and has the potential to involve companies on an international scale. Within the scope of CLEANHYPRO, various innovative materials and key components of the four main electrolysis technologies are covered. CLEANHYPRO creates a single entry point for industrial partners, especially SMEs, reducing investment costs and minimizing risks associated with technology transfer. It also provides opportunities for material and component demonstrations (TRL7) to accelerate the market entry of these new products. In Showcase #1, dedicated to alkaline electrolysis, BTU provides test capabilities for relevant industrial partners to evaluate novel electrode materials, separators, or cell designs for pressurized operation.