Hydrogen Applications

Fraunhofer is actively involved in integrating hydrogen into the steel, chemical, and refinery industries and in developing fuel cell applications for mobility, buildings, and power generation. The entire value chain is covered – from synthesis processes to final application. The focus lies on transformation from materials to systems and components through to full-scale plants and technology development, aiming to increase efficiency and reduce costs. Another key aspect is the integration of systems at industrial sites, including demonstration plants at laboratory and pilot scale. This also includes R&D in fuel cell system production and the construction of demonstrators for the use of hydrogen and its derivatives. Integration into the energy system and the comprehensive evaluation of technologies are central elements of Fraunhofer's R&D. Industry partners gain access to new technologies and processes, along with the expertise required for system integration. They benefit from Fraunhofer’s extensive experience and national and international market knowledge. Industrial applicability is considered from the outset when developing new processes. In this way, Fraunhofer’s research complements more fundamental work carried out by universities and Max Planck Institutes – especially in synthesis processes such as plasma and electrochemical methods, and in durability analysis of materials and components.