IMI has supplied it advanced VIVO proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser to support hydrogen-powered district heating in Germany.
The initiative, being carried out by the Fraunhofer-Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Systems (IEG) in Zittau, Germany, will set up a test facility at the Stadtwerke Zittau site to investigate real-scale extraction of heat from hydrogen generation.
Using PEM electrolysis, the companies expect to transfer the waste heat generated through a high-temperature heat pump. This will be fed into the municipal district heating network at the Stadtwerke Zittau, to assist with the research into the viability of the technology.
H2 View understands that the VIVO solution is ideally suited for the project, meeting the need for a system with “smaller, flexible, and scalable output capacities” combined with its instrumentation capabilities.
“Naturally, a lot of research surrounding hydrogen is focusing on its capabilities in power,” explained Roby Buyung, President of Process Automation at IMI.
“However, this project is looking at the potential by-products of hydrogen generation, specifically within the district heating sector. District heating is a strong candidate for the future of heating in Germany, with the government seeking to connect more than 100,000 properties annually.
“Hydrogen offers a promising avenue in which to achieve this aim,” Buyung added.
The project is part of the IntegrH2ate research project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research within the flagship project, H2 Giga, being developed in collaboration with Linde.
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