Hanseatic Hydrogen Center for Aviation and Maritime (H2AM)

Project goals:

As part of the national hydrogen strategy, the Hanseatic Hydrogen Center for Aviation and Maritime (H2AM) for aviation and shipping is being established in northern Germany. H2AM will create a new type of development, research and testing environment for start-ups, founders and SMEs in particular. The tasks of the innovation center also include the development of regulations and standards in the hydrogen sector and the provision of new services for hydrogen suppliers, manufacturers and developers. 

In addition to Hamburg, H2AM has locations in Stade and Bremen/Bremerhaven, with Hamburg playing a central role as a mobility metropolis with a focus on aviation and shipping.

Objectives:

The Fraunhofer CML stands for the research focus on shipping, the Center for Applied Aviation Research ZAL GmbH for aviation research. Within the framework of H2AM, the two research institutions will use and further develop joint research infrastructures and seek synergies in relation to the use of hydrogen between the two forms of transportation. Bunkering processes for hydrogen, methanol and ammonia, the integration of fuel cells in ships and the development of safe regulations present the transportation industry with a wide range of R&D tasks. 

Tasks of the CML in the hydrogen cluster H2AM:

As part of H2AM, the Fraunhofer CML is setting up a test center with laboratory (Fuel Cell Integration Center, FCIC) at the ZAL Center for Applied Aeronautical Research, which has a hydrogen supply. These research infrastructures will be used to advance, test and examine the development of fuel cell systems for ship propulsion systems, also on behalf of industrial companies.

In addition, the Fraunhofer CML is planning the construction of a Multi-Fuel Bunkering Facility (MFBF) for the bunkering of hydrogen and its derivatives, such as ammonia and methanol, in the port of Hamburg. The MFBF will be used to design and test bunkering protocols and technologies.

Funding framework:

The BMDV is funding the implementation of H2AM with almost 70 million euros as part of the “Guideline for the funding of projects in the course of establishing a decentralized hydrogen innovation and technology center”.