Hydrogen Integration Platform

Authors: Tabea Arndt, Michael J. Wolf

A modern energy system consists not only of power lines and power plants—it also includes other energy sources such as hydrogen. Liquid hydrogen is particularly exciting because it can store a great deal of energy in a small space. This makes it ideal for use in areas such as transportation, mobility, as energy storage for power plants, or in certain branches of industry.

Liquid hydrogen is extremely cold – this can be used to cool certain materials, known as superconductors, at no cost. These superconductors conduct electricity without resistance, which saves energy. If the coldness of the hydrogen is used for other components at the same time, the entire system becomes even more efficient.

To test such ideas in practice, the Hydrogen Integration Platform is currently being developed. It offers expertise, technology, and large quantities of liquid hydrogen to test new applications under realistic conditions – and to integrate them directly into the energy system.

Combined pipeline for electrical energy (red: superconductor) and liquid hydrogen (green). Top: diagram, bottom: laboratory example

How is it researched?

  • Provision of liquid hydrogen
  • Integration into both the electrical and molecular segments of the Energy Lab
  • Research into full-scale application aspects
  • Test areas and setups for energy transmission routes (electrical energy and liquid hydrogen), trains, engines with corresponding operating profiles
  • Fundamental research (materials and compatibility)
  • Combined applications of superconductors and liquid hydrogen
  • Integration options for liquid hydrogen in the cooling system
  • Development of the corresponding infrastructure and interfaces

What is the benefit for society?

  • Sector coupling in the energy system (electrical energy and energy vector).
  • Compensation for fluctuations in demand or bottlenecks in generation, as well as utilization of surpluses in generation.
  • Increased efficiency of applications in terms of effectiveness and necessary material usage/space requirements.
  • Decarbonization in the transportation system for various vehicles.
  • Development of a future technology.