In the Federal Government’s Energy Concept, modern power plants play an important part in the future energy supply.
In order to resolve the apparent contradiction between fossil fuels and climate protection, Jülich researchers are developing new types of gas separation membranes to capture the climate-damaging CO2 before it is emitted into the atmosphere.
High-termperataure fuel cells, especially solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), are very efficient at producing electricity and emit low levels of pollutants. This means they can make a considerable contribution to climate and environmental protection.
Their efficiency for electricity production is currently more than 60 %.
As part of an international project “Research for Sustainable Development”, scientists from the Institute of Energy and Climate Research – Principles of Electrochemistry at Forschungszentrum Jülich are working together with German and Russian partners from research and industry on developing new materials for high-performance SOFC fuel cells with improved lifetime.
Groundbreaking for the new membrane center
Modern power plants take in the energy concept of the federal government play an important role in the issue of energy supply for the future. To resolve the apparent conflict between fossil fuels and climate change, Jülich researchers are developing novel gas separation membranes that allow the harmful CO2 will be separated before it can escape into the atmosphere.
To the research is vital in this technology forward, is currently being built on the site of the Research Center Jülich, the so-called membrane center of the Institute for Energy and Climate Research – Materials Synthesis and Processing (IEK-1), in which researchers can develop new components.
Thomas Rachel, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Education and Research, now at a groundbreaking ceremony in conjunction with the Institute Director (acting) Hans Peter Buchkremer and Jülich, Prof. Harald Bolt, a board member of the research center, the launch of this pioneering construction project, the initial should be made 2013.
The investment for the building and is used equipment amount to approximately EUR 16 million of which comes the bulk of funds from the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), the research center will have the special investment program of the Helmholtz Association to the best.
“With the membrane center and the new Jülich Institute creates best conditions for excellent research opportunities in two key areas of future energy research. The research is thus fully in line with the energy concept of the federal government, “said State Secretary Thomas Rachel research.
High-temperature membranes have the advantage over conventional separation methods, that much lower efficiency losses must be accepted as such in a chemical scrubbing. This makes them particularly interesting for applications in power plants.
With the building, the approximately 1550 square meters of floor space will provide, and the newly established Institute for Climate Research draws – Fundamentals of Electrochemistry (IEK-9). Here are the most technologically oriented research and development work at the Institute for Energy and Climate Research will be supported to focus on fundamental and protected. These mainly include the battery and fuel cell research, electrolysis and membrane separation technologies.
State Secretary Thomas Rachel (2nd from right) are, together with Prof. Harald Bolt (2nd from left), board member of the research center, Dr. Hans Peter Buch Kremer (left) and Dr. William A. Meulenberg (right) the start signal for the construction of the membrane center.
Source: Research Centre Jülich
