Hydrogen -
the solution for energy storage
In the beginning there was
Hydrogen
Hydrogen
is the future.
Austrian Research Center on Expansion Path
The HyCentA is expanding under the management of Dr. Alexander Trattner.
HyCentA on LinkedIn
HyCentA informs regularly on LinkedIn about the latest hydrogen projects and events!
State Prize Mobility 2021 goes to the project UpHy
The State Prize for Mobility 2021 in the category Research. Develop. New ways. on 28.04.2022 went to HyCentA for the project UpHy. This is the highest award, which Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler awards to Austrian organizations on behalf of the BMK. It honors mobility innovations that pave Austria's way to climate neutrality by 2040 and support the vision of becoming a pioneer in climate protection. Read More.
HySnow wins EL-MO Award 2022
HySnow - Decarbonization of winter tourism by hydrogen-powered fuel cell snowmobiles – has been awarded the EL-MO Award. The HySnow project is funded by the Climate and Energy Fund as part of the 8th call for Lighthouses of Electromobility. Read More.
Project move2zero wins VCÖ Mobility Award
In the category "Energy transition and electrification in mobility", the lighthouse project move2zero, led by Holding Graz - Kommunale Dienstleistungen GmbH, won the first place. Read More.
Austria's most advanced Hydrogen Analysis Laboratory opened at HyCentA
Near-process and high-precision measurement of hydrogen quality is a key enabler in hydrogen applications. In industrial applications as well as in establishment of H2 electromobility. The required measurement methods and devices are developed at the HyCentA hydrogen research center in the course of the UpHy I research project funded by the Climate Fund. For this purpose, Austria's most advanced gas analysis laboratory has now gone into operation on the campus of Graz University of Technology. Read More.
HyCentA wins "Green Arrow"
Future Business Austria organises an annual location and infrastructure symposium, the programme also included the presentation of the infrastructure awards, the so-called Arrows. This year, the "Green Arrow" was also awarded for the first time during the symposium. The Arrows are awarded to projects and organisations that have made outstanding contributions to infrastructure and climate protection. This year the "Green Arrow" was awarded to HyCentA Research GmbH. Patrick Pertl accepted the award on behalf of the entire HyCentA team. Read More.
Visit to the BMK in Vienna
On July 30, 2020 the Hydrogen Center Austria (HyCentA) and the TU Graz visited Dr. Magnus Brunner, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Climate, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology in Vienna. Between the representatives of the TU Graz (Rector Univ.-Prof. Dr. Kainz and Vice-Rector Univ.-Prof. Dr. Bischof) and those of the Hydrogen Center Austria, Dr. Trattner (Managing Director and Scientific Director) and Dr. Jauk (Corporate and Business Development), recent topics on hydrogen were discussed. The HyCentA also presented its long-standing sector-specific know-how and finally a site visit to the HyCentA was agreed upon.
Visit of the Styrian State Councillor
On 29.6.2020 the HyCentA had the pleasure to welcome Mrs. Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, Councillor of Styria, in Graz by Alexander Trattner (managing director and scientific director) and Wolfgang Jauk (corporate development).
RECYCALYSE, a project to disrupt the energy storage market
- RECYCALYSE is led by the Danish Technological Institute and formed by 10 more partners from 7 countries
- RECYCALYSE has received €5.5 million funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme
- Project Video - Youtube
Copenhagen (Denmark), April 21st. A European consortium is working on the implementation of RECYCALYSE, a Horizon 2020 research and innovation project that will enhance the energy storage market through novel and recyclable catalytic materials made of abundant elements.
Eleven partners from seven European countries will work for 36 months to overcome the main barriers that remain for proton exchange membrane electrolysers cells (PEMEC), namely high capital cost and use of critical raw materials, and to boost the economic competitiveness of the European Union (EU) energy storage production.
The idea behind RECYCALYSE is to disrupt the energy storage market through the development and manufacture of highly active sustainable oxygen evolution catalysts, and through a recycling scheme for PEMEC catalysts, electrodes and overall system. This technology will help to reduce or eliminate critical raw materials, thus decreasing CO2 emissions and reducing costs.
Likewise, RECYCALYSE’s innovations will contribute to reduce or avoid dependence on materials imports in Europe, by implementing the recovered elements in the newly developed catalysts, thus contributing to a circular economy.
In summary, RECYCALYSE will result in a substantial reduction in the levelised costs of energy storage, leading to an improved technical and economic competitiveness of EU energy storage production suitable to store a large amount of energy at reduced costs.
Led by the Danish Technological Institute, RECYCALYSE is formed by Fraunhofer ICT, Sustainable Innovations, Vertech Group, TWI, Danish Power Systems, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (Institute for Nonferrous Metallurgy and Purest Materials), Bern University, Prüfrex, HyCentA Research GmbH, and Accurec.
The project has received €5.5 million funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 861960.
Contact:
Christian Kallesøe. Project coordinator. DTI
chkl@teknologisk.dk
macherhammer@hycenta.at
HySnow. HyTech
The Lynx HySnow snowmobile from the Upper Austrian engine manufacturer Rotax was presented for the first time on Thursday 27 February at the "HySnow. HyTech" event at the start of the FIS Ski World Cup weekend 2020 in Hinterstoder. Video of the event
As part of the HySnow project, which is funded by the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund as part of its "Lighthouses of E-mobility" program, the consortium comprising BRP-Rotax, HyCentA Research GmbH, Fronius Austria, Graz University of Technology, the ski regions of Hinterstoder and Wurzeralm, as well as ElringKlinger AG and ECuSol GmbH, developed not only the Lynx HySnow, but also an integrated hydrogen ecosystem with a refuelling system in Hinterstoder. The Lynx HySnow is powered by an electric drive with a hydrogen powered fuel cell. The only fuel is hydrogen produced from renewable energy, which is produced on site by electrolysis. The HySnow project demonstrates the advantages and benefits of innovative hydrogen technology and lays the foundation for the future production of emission-free mobility and commercial vehicle solutions.
At the event, prominent guests from business, science and politics also discussed the most important future issues of mobility and the decarbonisation of winter tourism, including Theresia Vogel, Managing Director of Climate and Energy Funds, Prof. Peter Schröcksnadel, ÖSV President and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Hinterstoder-Wurzeralm Bergbahnen AG, ÖSV star Hannes Reichelt, Upper Austrian Regional Economic Councillor Markus Achleitner and the Managing Director of HyCentA Alexander Trattner.
The entire HySnow team of the HyCentA naturally did not miss this great event. Patrick Pertl, Eva Wallnöfer-Ogris, Martin Aggarwal, Christoph Haas, Christian Fröschl, Florian Poimer and Valentin Gruber were also present.
Special thanks go to Magna Steyr AG & Co KG, FISCHER Spindle Group AG, Busch Clean Air SA, Webasto Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH, Vitesco Technologies GmbH and FH Joanneum for providing selected components for presentation purposes.
Successful completion of KEYTECH4EV
After three years of intensive research the flagship project KEYTECH4EV funded by the Climate and Energy Fund was succesfully completed.
The KEYTECH4EV project pursued the overriding goal of a cost-effective and CO2-free drive concept based on fuel cell and battery technology. These drive systems are already being developed in the industry, but with the focus on a pure fuel cell drive (large fuel cell combined with a very small battery, e.g. Toyota Mirai) or pure battery vehicles (large battery, e.g. Tesla). The innovative approach of the KEYTECH4EV project is the combination of both technologies into a hybridized system, making use of all possible synergies. The KEYTECH4EV project is a horizontally and vertically highly integrated project comprising an industrial development service provider (AVL), components and subsystem manufacturers (Hörbiger, Magna, ElringKlinger), research institutes (Graz University of Technology, Vienna University of Technology, HyCentA) and the small and medium-sized enterprise IESTA.
The Hoerbiger company developed the hydrogen injection valve and worked out the passive hydrogen recirculation together with HyCentA. The company Magna developed a hydrogen tank for the central tunnel and supplied the hydrogen tank system for the vehicle. The HyCentA took over the calculation and simulation of refuelling processes. ElringKlinger further developed its fuel cell platform in order to achieve 70 kW fuel cell output. Within this context, Graz University of Technology provided support for durability studies. AVL developed the entire fuel cell system including its control system and, in collaboration with IESTA, the fuel cell cooling system. The TU Vienna took over the model development for the condition monitoring of the fuel cell during operation.
The prototype vehicle developed was finally presented at a closing event on January 27. The HyCentA was represented by Stefan Brandstätter and Julius Rauh.
First Stationary Hydrogen Refuelling System for Buses in Austria at HyCentA Research GmbH
The HyCentA operates one of the most modern research infrastructures in Europe with laboratories, test benches and hydrogen refuelling facilities at the Graz University of Technology. The hydrogen refuelling infrastructure has been extended in 2019 by a dispenser for buses and trucks with a nominal pressure of 350 bar. Thus, HyCentA operates the first and only stationary hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for heavy-duty vehicles with a nominal pressure of 350 bar in Austria.
In the course of a two-week trial operation of ÖBB-Postbus GmbH a hydrogen is tested in the Graz area. The bus is refuelled once a day and the full tank allows for covering driving ranges of approximately 350 km. The first test refuelling of the hydrogen bus took place on Friday, 9 August in the presence of representatives of Holding Graz, ÖBB-Postbus GmbH and Solaris as well as HyCentA employees.
Vision
The HyCentA (Hydrogen Center Austria) promotes the use of hydrogen as a regenerative energy carrier as well as the development of electrochemical systems and their peripheries. With its hydrogen test center, the first hydrogen delivery station in Austria and the most modern fuel cell system integration test bed in Europe, the HyCentA functions as a focal point and information platform for hydrogen-oriented research and development activities.
Motivation
Due to the limited availability of fossil fuels and the increasing environmental pollution caused by the emission of toxic substances, research activities concerning the use of hydrogen as a future energy source become more and more important.
Hydrogen can be produced regeneratively and ecologically friendly and can be burnt ecologically compatible as fuel either in internal combustion, or in fuel cells.
However, for the widespread use of hydrogen, some technical challenges concerning production, distribution, storage and its utilization still need to be solved.
In order to ensure Austria’s top position with regard to research and development in the seminal area of hydrogen technology, as well as to secure its access to international research activities, a cooperation of several Austrian partners the Hydrogen Center Austria (HyCentA) was established on the premises of the Technical University of Graz. Compared internationally, the Hydrogen Center Austria with its high tech infrastructure represents a competitive hydrogen test and delivery center, which disposes of a high scientific and economic potential.