Fraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering IGP
Green Solutions for the Maritime Industry
The Hydrogen Application Center (Anwendungszentrum Wasserstoff) is one of three facilities of the Hydrogen Research Factory MV (Forschungsfabrik Wasserstoff MV), initiated by Fraunhofer IGP in collaboration with the Leibniz Institutes for Catalysis (LIKAT) and for Plasma Science and Technology (INP). Supported by the Ministry of Economics, Infrastructure, Tourism, and Labour, the initiative aims to develop holistic and application-oriented solutions for transitioning to a climate-neutral hydrogen economy. While LIKAT’s »PtX Transfer Technology Center« and INP’s »PtX Plasma Research Center« focus on the production of hydrogen and alternative fuels and storage methods, the Hydrogen Application Center concentrates on technology development for the economic application of these fuels in practice.
The core element of the Hydrogen Application Center is a large-scale testing facility for energy converter to develop and test suitable technologies for the sustainable industrial use of alternative fuels, particularly in maritime applications. The center focuses equally on the utilisation of hydrogen as a primary fuel or additive and the utilisation of hydrogen derivatives such as methanol and other e-fuels. In addition to testing hydrogen-based fuels and designing alternative propulsion systems, other key areas include evaluating and classifying PtX fuels and providing open-access testing capacity for external users. Furthermore, expertise in fuel cell and battery technologies is being developed to represent the energy conversion research field as comprehensively as possible. To achieve this, a strategic partnership has been established with the Chair of Piston Machines and Internal Combustion Engines (LKV) at the University of Rostock and FVTR GmbH.
The Hydrogen Application Center also aims to contribute to establish a carbon circular economy by developing and testing CO₂ capture and utilization technologies (CCS, CCU) under the technical guidance of LIKAT. These technologies capture CO₂ as a by-product of reforming processes or emitted after the combustion of carbon-based e-fuels and reuse it in the synthesis of new e-fuels, thereby preventing CO₂ emissions and enabling recycling within the fuel production process.
Another key topic of the Hydrogen Application Center is the development of retrofit solutions for the existing fleet. Given the long lifecycles of ships, efficient retrofit solutions are essential for a successful and timely transformation of the maritime industry. Retrofit efforts focus not only on the climate-friendly adaptation of energy converters but also on upgrading ship infrastructure. Solutions are being developed for tank systems, pipelines, and onboard piping to meet the new requirements of alternative fuels. Additionally, aspects of logistics, space optimization, and ship structure are being investigated.
