PROJECTS

H2Giga - series production of electrolyzers

Large electrolysis capacities are a key prerequisite for the successful development of the German hydrogen economy. In order to build up high capacities of high-performance and cost-effective electrolysers, series production of electrolysers is needed in the near future - because currently their production is still largely time-consuming and cost-intensive. To change this, the BMBF-funded hydrogen lead project "H2Giga" is investigating the series production of electrolyzers by a total of around 120 partners.

In order to meet Germany's growing demand for hydrogen in the future and to successfully ramp up the market, appropriate electrolysis capacities are needed. Although large and efficient electrolysers already exist today, their production is often time-consuming and cost-intensive. In order to build up the necessary electrolysis capacities in the future and make green hydrogen competitive, mass production of electrolysers is required. For this reason, about 120 partners from industry, SMEs, start-ups, universities and research institutions are working in the H2Giga project to advance existing electrolysis technologies. To this end, there is to be a constant exchange between industry and science within the project, whereby efficient processes for the production of electrolyzers are to be developed.

The H2Giga projects can be divided into three groups: Under the heading "Scale-up", common electrolysis processes (PEM electrolysis, alkaline water electrolysis, high-temperature electrolysis) are being looked at and prepared for series production. Within the scope of the "Next Generation Scale-up", electrolysis processes are investigated that are also promising but not yet as established. These include processes that do not require precious metals or are particularly efficient. In the "Innovation Pool", future technologies and innovations are investigated and developed, e.g. with regard to new materials and production technologies.

A detailed presentation of the (partial) projects can be seen in the video below.

The project started in April 2021 and will run for four years. The results of the project should eventually enable the various electrolysis technologies to be mass-produced in the future. H2Giga is also intended to help strengthen education and training in the hydrogen economy and create jobs.

Companies and research institutions from all over Germany are participating in the project, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). From Lower Saxony, the TU Clausthal, the TU Braunschweig, the Leibniz Universität Hannover, the German Aerospace Center and OFFIS e.V. are the main scientific partners involved. Fest GmbH from Goslar is participating from the business sector.

You can find more about the H2Giga project here.