860 million euros in funding: The Rheinische Revier becomes a hydrogen model region in Germany, Forschungszentrum Jülich.
Forschungszentrum Jülich will set up a Helmholtz Cluster for Sustainable and Infrastructure-Compatible Hydrogen Economy, HC-H2 for short, in the Rhenish Coalfield. The lighthouse project for research-driven new value creation is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research with around 860 million euros over a period of about 17 years within the framework of the Coal Regions Investment Act.
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia is also participating in the development of the HC-H2 with state funds. On 2 September, Armin Laschet, Minister-President of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Thomas Rachel MdB, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), will inform about this at the presentation of the project in the immediate vicinity of the Inden opencast mine. State Secretary Thomas Rachel will already hand over the first federal funding decision.
860 Million Euros in Funding: The Rheinische Revier Becomes a Hydrogen Model Region in Germany, Forschungszentrum Jülich
The HC-H2 is intended to provide a strong impetus for the development of the Rhenish coalfield and beyond that of the entire industrial location of North Rhine-Westphalia into a hydrogen model region with European appeal. To this end, the HC-H2 will research, develop and demonstrate innovative technologies for the production, logistics and use of green hydrogen on a large scale.
Research and development, technology demonstration in real application scenarios as well as integration of innovative technologies into existing infrastructures interlock in HC-H2 and enable new added value in the region. The Rhenish coalfield is to be strengthened as an attractive location for innovative energy companies, industrial settlements and founders. New jobs with a wide range of qualification profiles are to be created.
Focus on fast implementation
At the heart of research, which distinguishes HC-H2, are technologies that rely on existing infrastructures for the storage and transport of hydrogen that can be installed quickly and cheaply. This should enable rapid implementation on a large scale. One example is the existing natural gas network, which can also be used to transport hydrogen.
In addition, hc-H2 focuses on liquid or easily liquefied hydrogen carriers that can be handled similarly to conventional fossil fuels. For example, hydrogen can be stored chemically in the form of methanol or other alcohols as well as ammonia. Another focus will be the optimization and scaling of LOHC technology.
Hydrogen is bound to organic carrier liquids. These can be transported, for example, by tankers or tanker trucks and stored in tank farms. The existing infrastructure for liquid fuels can thus continue to be used.
Innovation and demonstration
An H2 Innovation Center will be established as the core of HC-H2, in which Forschungszentrum Jülich will contribute its broad hydrogen expertise and network with partners. The new Institute for Sustainable Hydrogen Economy (INW) is founded in the research centre itself. Bridging the gap to application is crucial: an H2 demonstration region is being established around the core of innovation-driven research.
Throughout the Rhenish coalfield, demonstration projects and plants are planned and set up on a relevant scale; they are intended to provide the decisive impetus for the cluster to develop entrepreneurial commitment to a sustainable hydrogen economy. It is essential for the entire HC-H2 that it combines the hydrogen activities of the region and involves relevant partners from research, industry, associations and municipalities.
To ensure that these activities can also easily come together spatially, the work of the HC-H2 should take place mainly outside the campus of the research center; His Institute for Sustainable Hydrogen Economy wants to set up Forschungszentrum Jülich in the Brainergy Park in Jülich.
The establishment of the Helmholtz Cluster was decided last year as part of the federal-state agreement on the coal phase-out.
As a large-scale research and innovation cluster, the HC-H2 is intended to promote structural change in the Rhenish lignite mining area and thus contribute to the fact that the phase-out of coal-fired power generation and the establishment of a new energy system can succeed in a climate-friendly, economical, secure supply and socially acceptable manner.
860 Million Euros in Funding: The Rheinische Revier Becomes a Hydrogen Model Region in Germany, Forschungszentrum Jülich
Comments on the project:
Armin Laschet, Minister President :
The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia and the region have made it their joint task to develop the Rhenish coalfield into a modern industrial region in the sense of the European Green Deal in the course of the lignite phase-out.
“We want to create a climate-neutral country – socially acceptable and economically sustainable. The hydrogen economy plays a key role in this transformation. That is why I am very pleased that with the establishment of the Helmholtz Cluster for Sustainable and Infrastructure-Compatible Hydrogen Economy (HC-H2) in the Rhenish Coalfield, we have the opportunity to become a hydrogen model region ‘made in NRW’.”
Thomas Rachel MdB, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research said:
The structural change in the Rhenish coalfield is bringing about profound changes for the region – away from coal and towards an energy region with a future.
“The promotion of HC-H2 is an essential building block for the development of the Rhenish coalfield into a hydrogen model region with Europe-wide appeal. To this end, we are providing coal regions with around 860 million euros as part of the Structural Strengthening Act. In this way, the BMBF is actively promoting the development of a green hydrogen economy and a sustainable energy system of the future.”
Prof. Wolfgang Marquardt, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Forschungszentrum Jülich
Forschungszentrum Jülich is committed to successful structural change in the Rhenish coalfield.
“We have set ourselves the goal of promoting groundbreaking concepts for an innovative and sustainable hydrogen economy. The ‘Helmholtz Cluster for Sustainable and Infrastructure-Compatible Hydrogen Economy’ will form a central nucleus for this with its focus on hydrogen logistics using chemical hydrogen carriers.”
“Together with a network of cooperation partners, a wide variety of value chains from hydrogen production to cross-sector hydrogen use will be covered in the future in a technology-open manner. By closely linking research and demonstration projects, we want to accelerate the transfer of research into practice. As a driver of innovation, the HC-H2 should develop into a beacon that can also become groundbreaking for other regions.”
Highlight:
- Forschungszentrum Jülich establishes new Helmholtz Cluster for Hydrogen Economy
860 million euros in funding: The Rhenish coalfield becomes a hydrogen model region, Jülich, August 31, 2021
