Now Available: Our New Guide on the Heidekrautbahn and Hydrogen-Powered Trains!
Cottbus, February 21, 2025
Environmentally friendly, innovative, and forward-looking – an exciting pilot project is set to launch on the Heidekrautbahn at the end of 2024: hydrogen-powered hybrid fuel cell trains of the Siemens Mobility Mireo Plus H type will be introduced on the RB 27 regional rail line for the first time. These trains run on green hydrogen, which is produced regionally using wind and solar energy. To provide deeper insights into this project and highlight the potential of hydrogen-based rail operations, we have developed a comprehensive guide. In this guide (in German), you will learn more about:
- The technology behind the new trains: From fuel cell propulsion to the use of green hydrogen.
- The impact on the region: How this initiative will sustainably transform the Barnim and Oberhavel districts.
- The research project: Scientific monitoring by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU).
- The project’s goals: CO₂-free rail operations and cost-effective alternatives to diesel-powered trains.
- Lessons Learned: Insights gained from the project phases of preparation, approval, and implementation.
Our guide is aimed at all those interested in learning more about the future of environmentally friendly rail transport. Download the guide now and join us on the journey toward sustainable mobility!
Ceremonial Inauguration of the
Mireo Plus H Hydrogen Train –
A Significant Milestone for
Sustainable Mobility
It’s accomplished!
On September 25, 2024, a milestone for the future of emission-free mobility was reached at Basdorf station. A significant step toward the future of emission-free mobility was achieved on September 25, 2024, at Basdorf Station: the ceremonial inauguration of the Mireo Plus H hydrogen train, manufactured by Siemens Mobility, took place with broad participation from industry, research, and the public. The hydrogen train is the centerpiece of the innovative Heidekrautbahn project, which was realized through close collaboration between industrial and research partners. The Heidekrautbahn project is a prime example of the transition toward sustainable mobility. It is operated by the industrial partners ENERTRAG SE, Kreiswerke Barnim GmbH, and Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB). At the same time, it is scientifically supported by the Department of Thermal Energy Technology at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg and the DLR Institute for Vehicle Concepts.
The Contribution of BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg
A particularly noteworthy aspect is the contribution of the Chair of Thermal Energy Technology at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. Our academic staff members, Frank Gillung and Krunal Thummar, not only participated in the inauguration event and the subsequent special journey of the hydrogen train from Basdorf through Berlin's city railway to Charlottenburg, but they are also making a crucial scientific contribution: As part of the project, they are modeling the entire process chain of hydrogen production, which is operated by the project partner ENERTRAG SE. The goal of this modeling is to identify optimization potential in the operation of individual components in the hydrogen plant. By doing so, the efficiency of hydrogen production can be improved, and critical insights can be gained for further technological development.
A Step Toward an Emission-Free Future
The Heidekrautbahn project impressively demonstrates how forward-looking solutions can arise through interdisciplinary collaboration between research and industry. The Mireo Plus H hydrogen train stands not only as a symbol of tomorrow’s mobility but also as an example of the successful transfer of research results into practical application. We are proud that BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg is part of this visionary project and is actively contributing to shaping a sustainable and emission-free future.
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.