Large-Scale Storage System Delivered for Green Hydrogen Research

At the Niedersächsisches Forschungszentrum für Fahrzeugtechnik (NFF) of Technische Universität Braunschweig, another key component for future hydrogen research has arrived: the large-scale metal hydride storage system has been successfully delivered to Braunschweig Research Airport. With a total storage capacity of up to 500 kilograms of hydrogen, it is one of the largest research facilities of its kind worldwide.

The newly installed metal hydride storage units will form the core of future research activities focused on developing scalable hydrogen infrastructures at the Research Airport campus. They are based on an innovative technology in which hydrogen is safely bound within metal structures. This process enables particularly compact, efficient, and long-term storage at comparatively low pressure while simultaneously increasing operational safety.

Michael Heere, Juniorprofessor at the Institute of Internal Combustion Engines and Fuel Cells, emphasizes: “With the expansion of the H2 Terminal and its associated infrastructure, Technische Universität Braunschweig underscores the strategic importance of this location as a real-world laboratory for sustainable mobility and energy systems. In combination with large-scale storage, we at the NFF are able to investigate and further develop key questions regarding the integration and scaling of hydrogen technologies under realistic conditions.”

Beyond the joint H2 Terminal project, the metal hydride storage systems are designed to be flexibly used and shared across additional research initiatives, for example within the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)-funded project “JaWoll.” This project addresses a previously underexplored challenge: the efficient utilization of hydrogen-rich residual gases in testing and infrastructure environments. Through innovative approaches to recovery and reuse, overall efficiency is expected to be significantly increased, thereby making an important contribution to the economic and sustainable use of hydrogen.

Development of an Integrated Infrastructure for Hydrogen Production, Distribution, and Storage

The required hydrogen is produced at the H2 Terminal, located just a few hundred meters from the NFF, using electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources. It is then transported to the research center via an already installed pipeline infrastructure and specifically stored in the new metal hydride storage systems.

“With the delivery of the storage systems, we are achieving a decisive milestone for the H2 Terminal and sustainably strengthening Braunschweig as a research hub. The combination of production at the terminal and utilization at the NFF exemplifies how an integrated hydrogen infrastructure can be designed in the future,” says David Sauss, Head of siz energieplus, which coordinates the joint project as the project developer.

Following the successful delivery, the storage systems will be connected over the coming weeks and gradually prepared for operation.

About the H2 Terminal

The H2 Terminal in Braunschweig serves as a research platform covering the entire hydrogen value chain: green hydrogen is produced on site using various electrolysis technologies, analyzed in test benches, used for applications such as a hydrogen refueling station, and investigated in combination with battery storage systems and photovoltaics for grid stabilization.

The hydrogen produced is also distributed via a pipeline infrastructure to external research institutions such as the NFF and the Fraunhofer ZESS, where it is used in test facilities and for studying aging processes as well as for decarbonization purposes. In addition, storage takes place in large-scale metal hydride systems, and the waste heat generated during electrolysis is utilized via a local heating network.

The research project is funded by the Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (BMFTR) with a total funding volume of more than €20 million.