Supporting research ensures the success of the project and paves the way for further projects

As a real-life laboratory for the energy transition, the Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park is the first to test technologies and processes for the production, transport, storage and utilisation of green hydrogen on an industrial scale and to model the entire process chain. With its 7^th Energy Research Programme, the German government is promoting the practical application of innovative technologies under real-life conditions in order to decisively advance the far-reaching restructuring of the energy system in Germany on the basis of the knowledge thus acquired. The Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park is one of five projects in the “Real-world laboratories of the energy transition” category for intersectoral integration and hydrogen technologies. 

Scientific support for the Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park is provided by the DBI - Gastechnologisches Institut gGmbH Freiberg. The research institute of the DBI Group is wholly owned by the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW) and is a research and development company with a Europe-wide reputation. The company analyses fundamental issues in the energy and gas industry.

The interaction of wind farm and electrolysis on an industrial scale is a unique feature of the Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park. As part of this innovative project, the practical interface between the wind farm and the electrolyser is being developed and implemented by the two parties involved, Terrawatt and Uniper. The solution developed will be evaluated and, in particular, its transferability to other use cases will be examined and analysed by the DBI, as the project’s academic facilitator. 

Research focus 2: Hydrogen storage & transport

In this second research area, the focus is on the purity of the hydrogen produced. High-purity hydrogen is produced in the electrolyser. During storage in the cavern storage facility, but also during transport through steel pipes, foreign substances may get into the gas. As the purity of the hydrogen is of great importance, particularly in industrial applications, the development of suitable measurement and treatment processes is also of great significance. 

In addition to the suitability of already standardised processes for gas purification and their practical application in the purification of hydrogen, the project will examine whether new - more efficient and cost-effective - processes for the purification of hydrogen can be developed.

Research focus 3: Marketing & utilisation

The marketing & utilisation research area is primarily concerned with the possible applications of hydrogen and the associated framework conditions. To this end, analyses of potential are being carried out in parallel with the planning and construction of the Energy Park in order to identify potential users of hydrogen and determine their associated needs. To this end, talks are being held with regional gas suppliers, local authorities and commercial entities. 

Another important aspect of hydrogen utilisation is costing the entire value chain and developing a business model based on this. Corresponding calculations are carried out as part of the academic support programme and compared with the regulatory framework.  

As these regulatory framework conditions are currently still being developed, they are being scientifically evaluated in position papers which are used to help shape them.