FAU professors Grimm and Wasserscheid are coordinating the development of a Bavarian hydrogen strategy

Hydrogen is considered to be the energy carrier of the future. As the most common element on earth, it has the potential, as an energy store and fuel, in mobility and industry, to help determine tomorrow's energy supply in a climate-friendly way. At the Energie Campus Nürnberg (EnCN), FAU and other research institutions have already achieved an excellent position in the field of innovative technologies for the hydrogen economy. The Bavarian State Government has now decided to relocate the Center Hydrogen.Bayern (H2.B) to the EnCN for the development and implementation of the Bavarian hydrogen strategy. The board of directors of the center consists of Prof. Dr. Veronika Grimm and Prof. Dr. Peter Wasserscheid from FAU. The founding event took place on September 5th at the Energie Campus Nürnberg, where the H2. [caption id="attachment_26620" align="alignnone" width="705"]

Hydrogen is considered to be the energy carrier of the future. As the most common element on earth, it has the potential, as an energy store and fuel, in mobility and industry, to help determine tomorrow's energy supply in a climate-friendly way. In the picture from left: Prof. Dr. Veronika Grimm, Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger, Prof. Dr. Peter Wasserscheid, FAU President Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger, Bavaria's Minister of Science Bernd Sibler. (Image: FAU / Kurt Fuchs)[/caption] Hydrogen is considered to be the energy carrier of the future. As the most common element on earth, it has the potential, as an energy store and fuel, in mobility and industry, to help determine tomorrow's energy supply in a climate-friendly way. In the picture from left: Prof. Dr. Veronika Grimm, Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger, Prof. Dr. Peter Wasserscheid, FAU President Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger, Bavaria's Minister of Science Bernd Sibler. (Image: FAU / Kurt Fuchs)

Advancing hydrogen in mobility in Bavaria

The H2.B is intended to bring together business, science and politics in order to advance the "hydrogen economy" and especially hydrogen in mobility in Bavaria as quickly as possible and to achieve the use of hydrogen in widespread practical application. On the occasion of the establishment of the H2.B, the Bavarian State Government established a hydrogen alliance with the key players in a future Bavarian hydrogen economy. The H2.B will work with its partners on an ambitious timeline together with the Bavarian state government to develop a hydrogen strategy. Demonstration projects in specific fields of action will play an important role right from the start. The findings from the scientifically supported demonstration projects should be used immediately, Prime Minister Dr. Markus Söder states: “Bavaria is a pioneer in green future technologies. For us, business and climate protection go hand in hand. The Center Hydrogen.Bavaria becomes the driving force for hydrogen applications - from research to market launch. We shape the future through innovation and progress. ”At the founding event, Söder made it clear that the state government will invest several million in research and innovations relating to hydrogen. It is not just about investing in H2.B alone, but also about further strengthening the research environment in the region. In this context he announced

Hydrogen is the key to the energy transition

Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs, Hubert Aiwanger, emphasizes how important it is for Bavaria to be at the forefront when it comes to energy technology and not to look at the “tail lights of others”: “Hydrogen is the key to the energy transition. Our aim is to bring hydrogen technologies to use quickly in and from Bavaria. We want to close the gap that currently still exists between “laboratory and street”. For this purpose we are founding the Center Hydrogen.Bavaria, the H2.B. The involvement of partners from Bavarian industry is particularly important. The establishment of the H2.B is therefore flanked by the current establishment of a broad-based Bavarian hydrogen alliance. We have already won strong partners for this alliance, and more will follow!

In Erlangen and Nuremberg, top-class and proven experts work on energy issues, especially on the subject of hydrogen!

Science Minister Bernd Sibler explains the important role of research for the H2.B project: “In Erlangen and Nuremberg, top-class and proven experts work on energy issues, especially on the subject of hydrogen! In the new Center Hydrogen.Bayern, the FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg in particular contributes its excellent expertise and is therefore a decisive player when it comes to developing a future-oriented concept for a Bavarian hydrogen strategy. "

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Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger, Präsident der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (Bild: FAU/Thomas Einberger)[/caption] "The important role played by the FAU professors in the H2.B underlines our research performance in the field of innovative hydrogen technologies and the excellent networking between the FAU researchers and the relevant industry," emphasizes FAU President Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger. "As part of the research focus on 'Energy Systems of the Future', our scientists have achieved remarkable achievements in recent years and prepared the ground for these developments in pioneering projects with a focus on sustainable energy supply." Proof of the excellence and innovative strength of energy research at FAU is among other things the establishment of the Helmholtz Institute for Renewable Energies in Erlangen and Nuremberg (HI ERN),

Hornegger thanks the Prime Minister in particular for providing the important funds for the new chemistry buildings: “Excellent science needs excellent infrastructure. With the commitment of the Prime Minister, this is guaranteed for our chemistry. In the new premises, both our scientists and students will find the best opportunities to research and learn. This improvement of the infrastructure will further strengthen the innovative strength of FAU - and at the same time the pioneering position of the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region for the technological leadership and future viability of Bavaria.

Board of Directors of the Hydrogen Center: Prof. Dr. Veronika Grimm and Prof. Dr. Peter Wasserscheid from FAU

The board members of the new H2.B, Prof. Dr. Veronika Grimm and Prof. Dr. Peter Wasserscheid, have long been active in energy research at the EnCN. Grimm heads the chair for economics, especially economic theory at FAU and is chair of the scientific management of the EnCN. Wasserscheid holds the chair for chemical reaction engineering at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and is also director at the HI ERN.

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Prof. Dr. Grimm ist Inhaberin des Lehrstuhls für Volkswirtschaftslehre, insbesondere Wirtschaftstheorie, der FAU. (Bild: FAU/Giulia Iannicelli)[/caption]

“Hydrogen technologies are an important key for the comprehensive transformation of the energy system and thus for the achievement of our ambitious climate goals. Business models for individuals can only emerge if others also get involved. Therefore the coordination of the activities is correct and important ", says Prof. Dr. Veronika Grimm. "FAU, Fraunhofer, TH Nürnberg and HI ERN have been cooperating successfully in energy research on the Energie Campus Nürnberg for a long time, specifically with a focus on the application - in this respect, the location of the H2.B here is only logical".

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Prof. Dr. Peter Wasserscheid
FAU Erlangen-Nuernberg
Foto: Kurt Fuchs / FAU

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The hydrogen economy of the future consists of green and cheap hydrogen sources that are linked to high-quality applications, e.g. in the mobility or industrial sector, via efficient hydrogen logistics paths," explains Prof. Dr. Peter Wasserscheid. “Research and framework conditions have developed dynamically in recent years, so that we can now say with a very high degree of certainty that hydrogen technologies will play a key role for a successful energy transition in Germany and worldwide. Now it is important to combine the intensive research and development work that is still necessary with a greatly accelerated implementation in practical applications. "

Founding members of the Bavarian Hydrogen Alliance

The founding members of the Bavarian Hydrogen Alliance are: Audi AG, Bayernoil Raffineriegesellschaft mbH, Bayernwerk AG, BayWa AG / BayWa re renewable energy GmbH, BMW AG, ESTW - Erlanger Stadtwerke AG, H2 Mobility Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for renewable energies, Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies GmbH, Linde plc, MAN Energy Solutions SE, MAN Truck & Bus SE, NürnbergMesse GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH, Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG and Siemens AG.

Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg Co-ordinating Development of a Bavarian Hydrogen Strategy