The cooperation platform "Materials for future hydrogen technologies" – in short: MAT4HY.NRW – brings together research institutions and companies to develop cost-effective materials for the industrialization of electrolysis, thereby advancing the hydrogen economy in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Producing (green) hydrogen via electrolysis and with the help of renewable energies is currently still very cost-intensive. This is due both to expensive materials (e.g. catalysts containing precious metals) and to the complex production of the electrolysers, which consist of compact stacks of individual cells made up of membrane, electrode and catalyst layers. In order to change this, research and industries are networking their know-how via the MAT4HY.NRW platform, keeping an eye on the entire value added chain of hydrogen electrolysis – from theoretical calculations for suitable material combinations to the production line readiness of new materials and technologies. The cooperation platform to be developed is designed to coordinate and transfer joint research work. The end result should be marketable solutions.
The collaboration is enabled by various formats. For example, agile workshops are planned to analyze technological challenges and develop and evaluate suitable solution strategies. Also planned is an overarching scientific exchange with the goal of generating new knowledge in joint projects through joint new research proposals. A joint digital data platform will be established to document, evaluate and process the results.
Associated partners: HSW Materials, ProPuls and Fraunhofer UMSICHT
Duration: May 2023 to May 2027
Funding: The cooperation platform "Materials for future hydrogen technologies" – in short: MAT4HY.NRW – is funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT