INITIAL

The INITIAL project develops integrated energy park concepts for rural areas by combining renewable electricity, hydrogen production, energy storage, and heat utilization. The aim is to develop flexible and efficient energy systems that can adapt to fluctuating renewable energy generation.

The research focuses on the modelling and optimization of alkaline and PEM water electrolysis under variable operating conditions. Important aspects include hydrogen production, Faradaic efficiency, gas quality, and cell-voltage behaviour.

A particular focus is the investigation of hybrid electrolyser configurations, combining the complementary characteristics of alkaline and PEM electrolysis. The project will also study the integration of electrolysers with battery storage to buffer short-term fluctuations and improve the flexibility and utilization of the electrolysis system.

The developed models will be integrated into the overall energy park simulation to study the interaction of renewable electricity, hydrogen production, electrical storage, and waste heat.

The project contributes to the development of flexible and efficient electrolysis systems for future renewable energy-based energy parks.