Federal Government Innovation Commissioner for Green Hydrogen keeps informed about Research at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg
The topic of energy is an integral part of Lusatia and has shaped the region and research at the BTU for many years. With the energy transition and the goal of ensuring a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy supply - away from nuclear and fossil fuels - the BTU has a special role to play. In this context, research on "green hydrogen" forms a pillar of the activities towards a climate-neutral economy and is crucial for decarbonization, for example in the steel and chemical industries.
Highly efficient, sustainable power generator
The first stop on Dr. Kaufmann's visit was the TurboFuelCellFuE, or T-Cell, developed at BTU. Ten chairs at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg are collaborating with the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS to research a sustainable solution for the energy transition. The T-Cell is a combination of micro gas turbine and high-temperature fuel cell. With an electrical efficiency of more than 65 percent, the technology is particularly climate-friendly. It can flexibly process different fuels depending on local conditions, impresses with its versatile design, and can be flexibly combined and scaled in its performance.
The BTU Hydrogen and Storage Research Center
At the Hydrogen and Storage Research Center, BTU scientists are researching how to make alkaline electrolysis more flexible and efficient. In the broadest sense, electrical energy is converted into chemical energy, in the form of hydrogen gas, and can thus be stored more efficiently in the long term.
Innovative energy technologies for structural change
The third block of the visit was the presentation of Power-to-X (PtX) basic research, combustion research, the presentation of the Energy Innovation Center and the planned establishment of energy storage and conversion facilities for PtX technologies at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. The long-term goal here is to become the central hub for innovative energy technologies to support structural change.
The BTU's cooperation partners, the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Structures IEG, the Institute of Low-Carbon Industrial Processes and the Institute of Electrified Aero Engines of the German Aerospace Center e.V. (DLR) also presented their research work in the field. The spectrum ranged from comprehensive research support for the hydrogen economy in Germany (Fraunhofer IEG), innovative high-temperature heat pumps for the provision ofCO2-neutral high-temperature process heat (DLR Institute forLow-Carbon Industrial Processes) to the role of hydrogen in the future of aviation (DLR Institute for Electrified Aerospace Propulsion).
