Hydrogen innovation in Germany
The production of hydrogen as an energy source and its intelligent use will play a key, if not decisive, role in achieving the climate targets. Not only companies, but also think tanks, are working on innovations in the field of hydrogen technology. This is also the case with the funding project for the development of alkaline water electrolysis (AEL); increasingly with the support of engineering simulations from Merkle CAE Solutions.
Engineering simulations help to optimize design, materials, efficiency and cost-effectiveness in a shorter time with clearer approaches. Also in the field of hydrogen technology. Merkle CAE Solutions, one of the leading offices in Germany in the field of engineering simulations, has been working on the development of electrolysers and fuel cells and their peripherals since the end of the 1990s.
Sustainable concepts
“Optimizing individual components and their parts, such as the end plates, bipolar plates or the flow field, using simulation is important and necessary for reliable and timely development,” says Stefan Merkle, Managing Partner of Merkle CAE Solutions GmbH.
"We are going one step further; as part of the research funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), we are conducting research in the AWEC++ project together with the Fraunhofer Institute IKTS-BITC in Arnstadt as part of the German government's 7th Energy Research Program. The aim is to realize an innovative alkaline water electrolysis (AEL). This makes it possible to achieve high process stability at high pressure and high temperatures. By increasing H2 production at constant installation costs, this leads to a halving of CAPEX, the investment expenditure," says Merkle.
High-tech for the energy of tomorrow
The centerpiece of the AWEC++ project is a diaphragm for which plasma-sprayed, insulating ceramic is applied to a highly porous metal carrier. The extensive consortium, consisting of Fraunhofer IKTS, SITEC Industrietechnologie GmbH as consortium leader, Paul GmbH & Co. KG, MUW Screentec GmbH and AP-Miniplant GmbH & Co. KG, as well as the associated partners TALLAG Saalfeld GmbH - a company of the TALLAG Group, RWE Generation SE, and WIR! alliance h2-well, demonstrates the interdisciplinary nature of the project and the need for expertise. Everyone has to contribute their know-how and help make it a success.
The value of simulation
Simulations are used specifically to analyze and optimize electrolysers in each of their components and to make alkaline water electrolysis marketable through innovation. The project is currently transitioning from the concept phase to the demonstrator phase. Completion of the extensive tests on the demonstrator is planned for the second half of 2026. There are still some technical hurdles to overcome, but an increase in power density has been successfully achieved by increasing the pressure and temperature.
"The expertise we have acquired over more than 30 years in the field of hydrogen simulation is profound. We are constantly, and currently, working on hydrogen topics from industry. With the federally funded project on alkaline water electrolysis, we will continue to expand this lead for the benefit of our customers," says Stefan Merkle.
