State Secretary Dr. Denis Alt Presents Funding Grant for the Development of Advanced Hydrogen Storage Technology to IVW

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Dr. Denis Alt, State Secretary in the Ministry of Science and Health, today presented a funding grant of 869,706 euros to the Leibniz Institute for Composite Materials GmbH (IVW) in Kaiserslautern. In the new state research project "HydroBear," the institute will use these funds over the next three years to develop a new type of pressure storage system for hydrogen. The project aims to develop climate-neutral propulsion systems. By switching from conventional fuel to sustainably produced hydrogen, the emission of the climate-damaging greenhouse gas CO2 can be avoided. For a particularly lightweight storage system, new designs will be developed at IVW using fiber composite materials. These tanks can then not only store gaseous hydrogen under high pressure but also be used to transfer loads that occur during the operation of transport vehicles. This is interesting not only for commercial vehicles but also for smaller or medium-sized aircraft.

In the future, hydrogen could also be stored in wings, with the tank replacing load-bearing structures (e.g., spars). This technology is already being targeted by the associated project partner Lange Aviation GmbH, the Rhineland-Palatinate aircraft manufacturer, which supports the research project.

Denis Alt expressed his delight at IVW's strong commitment to hydrogen technologies: "We need new and better technologies for the storage and transport of hydrogen. By bringing its significant expertise in composite materials to this project, IVW contributes to the achievement of key UN sustainability goals. The institute once again demonstrates the importance of its work for the implementation of the state's hydrogen strategy and the scientific and industrial location of Rhineland-Palatinate."

At the handover, Professor Breuer said: "We are very pleased about this state funding because there is still research and development work ahead of us to achieve our goal of climate neutrality. We must ensure that the pressure vessels of the future remain sufficiently tight and strong throughout their entire life, even under cyclic loading, while also being cost-effective to manufacture and as reusable as possible."

For more information, visit https://www.ivw.uni-kl.de/de/start.

 

The Leibniz Institute for Composite Materials GmbH (IVW) is a non-profit research institution of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate and the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU). It researches the fundamentals for future applications of composite materials, which are crucial for future mobility, energy, climate and environment, production technology, and healthcare. New materials, designs, and manufacturing processes are investigated and tailored to specific requirements after the basic understanding is developed. The entire process chain is considered, from material fundamentals through characterization and simulation, design and manufacturing technology, to component testing and recycling. New ideas and innovative concepts are not only an essential part of the institute's research and development but also lead to spin-offs. Newly acquired knowledge is transferred primarily to science but also to education, the interested public, and industrial applications. As a member of the Leibniz Association, the institute receives institutional funding in accordance with AV-WGL for the joint financial support of institutions by the federal and state governments (50% federal share, 50% share from Rhineland-Palatinate and the states as a whole).

Lange Aviation GmbH is a German aerospace company based in Zweibrücken and is considered a pioneer in electric flight and the developer of the first manned hydrogen aircraft. Since 1996, Lange Aviation has been developing and producing fully electric and self-launching high-performance gliders under the brand name Antares Electric Performance Aircraft for sport and cross-country pilots. Since 2004, over 100 of these electric aircraft have been delivered to customers.

from left to right: Pascal Sadaune, Dr. Andreas Gebhard, Dr. Janna Krummenacker, Dr. Denis Alt, Dr. Ulf Breuer, Dr. Nicole Motsch-Eichmann, Dr. Joachim Hausmann, Dr. Bernd Wetzel

Dr. Denis Alt and Dr. Joachim Hausmann

Dr. Nicole Motsch-Eichmann, Dr. Denis Alt and Dr. Ulf Breuer

From left to right: Nithya Sindhe, Dr. Denis Alt, Dr. Ulf Breuer, Dr. Joachim Hausmann, Pascal Sadaune

Dr. Denis Alt and Dr. Ulf Breuer

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