PROJECTS

HyNEAT - Hydrogen Supply Networks' Evolution for Air Transport

The decarbonization of air travel poses a particular challenge, as electrification is difficult to achieve. However, the use of hydrogen and its derivatives offers the potential to fly in a climate-friendly way in the future. To this end, it is first necessary to develop appropriate propulsion technologies based on the use of hydrogen and make them ready for series production. In addition, however, the infrastructure in the airport sector must also be further developed so that the supply of hydrogen at airports is guaranteed. The BMBF-funded "HyNEAT" project, which is being implemented by various universities - including those in Hanover, Braunschweig and Clausthal - as part of a research alliance, is tackling precisely this challenge.

While numerous decarbonization technologies are already available and being used more and more widely in private transport and public transport in particular, the decarbonization of air traffic is still in the starting blocks. As the electrification of aircraft is difficult to implement and only for smaller aircraft, other solutions are coming into focus - such as the use of hydrogen. Efficient propulsion systems that enable the use of hydrogen are key to success; however, the infrastructural prerequisites are also needed to realize the energy transition in aviation.

It is precisely these infrastructural requirements that a research consortium of German universities is addressing in the HyNEAT project. The first step is to analyze the hydrogen demand (or the demand for liquid hydrogen - LH2) in aviation. This is done in an overarching approach that models the aviation system and its development in general. In the second part of the project, a mathematical optimization model will be developed that describes the influence of different hydrogen prices on route planning and the amount of hydrogen purchased by airlines. The findings from the first sub-project will be incorporated into this process.

The calculations and simulations can then provide an orientation and planning basis for what hydrogen demand can be expected at what prices at the airports. From this, LH2 supply chains are then modeled, which include the relevant components for hydrogen production, compression and liquefaction as well as transport and storage and determine optimal supply networks.

You can find out more about the project here.

Project partner

• Leibniz University Hanover
• Institute for Electrical Energy Systems (coordination)
• Institute for Solid State Physics
• Institute for Environmental Economics and World Trade
• Braunschweig University of Technology
• Institute of Automotive Economics and Industrial Production
• Institute for Mathematical Optimization
• Junior Research Group "Overall System Evaluation"
• Clausthal University of Technology
• Professorship for Processing, Recycling and Circular Economy Systems
• Hamburg University of Technology
• Working Group Resilient and Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management

• Technical University of Munich
  • Chair of Plant and Process Engineering

• Institute for Air Handling and Refrigeration Dresden
• Pro Aviation Consult GmbH

Further information on the project partners can be found here.

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