GRK 2983:  Hy-Potential: Hydrogen - Fundamentals of Production, Storage & Transport, Applications, and Economy

• Subject Area: Fluid Mechanics, Technical Thermodynamics and Thermal Energy Engineering ; Process Engineering, Technical Chemistry
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 516338899

Meeting the world’s ever-increasing energy needs has severely affected climate, biodiversity, and ecology. The need for a transition to a sustainable and carbon-neutral energy economy is undisputed but challenging. In addition to wind and solar power, chemical energy carriers will play an essential role for future energy systems, where harvesting and utilization of renewable energy occur not necessarily at the same time or place, hence long-time storage and long-range transport of energy are needed. For this, hydrogen as an energy carrier holds great promise. Hydrogen is carbon-free, can be produced with high energetic efficiencies, is very versatile for on-demand energy applications, and from a global socio-economic viewpoint, it opens economic opportunities that cater to many regions in the world. However, technological challenges still exist in hydrogen production, storage and transport, and reconversion for energy use. Further, the methods for the optimal integration of the different renewable energy resources, energy sectors, and geographic regions need to be advanced. The move towards a hydrogen-based economy requires the use and integration of currently available technologies as well as the development of innovative new concepts. For the individuals that will facilitate, develop, and implement this transition, extensive knowledge and oversight on all aspects of hydrogen technologies and economy are essential. This knowledge needs to span across a matrix of the different technological aspects both on a fundamental and a system-scale level. The proposed International Research Training Group (IRTG) between RWTH Aachen University and the Tokyo Institute of Technology aims to push the state of international progress in this field and train an excellent cohort of professionals that are uniquely qualified for driving national and international energy transition programs. Because of the complementary as well as overlapping excellence between the two institutions, the IRTG benefits from a highly interdisciplinary research structure that brings together researchers with a wide range of competences and interests. The innovative research ideas span areas ranging from hydrogen production, storage and transport, and thermo- and electrochemical applications to life-cycle assessment and energy-system analysis. While the individual research projects are facilitated by an environment of world-class research at both institutions, the all-round development of researchers is ensured through a tailor-made qualification program that fulfills multiple objectives of gaining knowledge, acquiring transversal skills, and building professional networks. Founded on close supervision and career mentoring, the qualification objectives are achieved by exposing the doctoral candidates to courses, seminars, lectures, and conferences built around all aspects of a hydrogen economy, and international exchanges.

• DFG Programme: International Research Training Groups
• International Connection: Japan
• Applicant Institution: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
• IRTG-Partner Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr.-Ing. Heinz Pitsch
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr.-Ing. Niklas von der Aßen; Professor Dr.-Ing. Abhishek Khetan; Professor Dr.-Ing. Reinhold Kneer; Professorin Dr. Anna K. Mechler; Professorin Dr. Regina Palkovits; Professor Dr.-Ing. Stefan Pischinger; Professor Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Schröder; Professorin Dr. Grit Walther; Professor Dr.-Ing. Matthias Wessling
• IRTG-Partner: Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Mamoru Tanahashi