International Future Lab
REDEFINE

Project Overview
The TUM International Future Lab REDEFINE Hydrogen Economy is a project that focuses on research into novel technologies and associated systemic aspects for the production of green hydrogen using reversible high-temperature electrolysis (rSOC) and innovative gasification (e-Gas), up to the bio-catalytic synthesis of basic chemicals and energy carriers (bio-Cat), framed by elaborate system-level aspects investigation (SLAM). Since the combination of these three REDEFINE technologies has not yet been studied in detail, highly motivated scientists from international renowned organizations will jointly conduct research on the future of green hydrogen at our chair of Energy Systems at TU Munich in order to establish the scientific and technological foundation of a future circular hydrogen economy.

The research of the REDEFINE H2E project will mainly focus on determining the roll of REDEDFINE technologies in a global future low-emission energy system. In this course the reflection of the potential role of REDEFINE technologies by reviewing different H2 roadmaps as well as Techno-economic assessment for different sites are necessary research aspects. Moreover different energy system scenarios will be analyzed in order to derivate global boundary conditions for REDEFINE technologies.
In summary, the future laboratory REDEFINE H2E combines in an outstanding way the expertise and the excellent research of various international scientists with a high visibility of hydrogen research at the Technical University of Munich it contributes decisively to the sustainable strengthening of Germany as a research location.
Work packages
The Future Lab REDEFINE H2E aims at the development of a full circular hydrogen economy in a single integrated concept with only three major building blocks. This ingenious interplay of electrically-assisted gasification (e-Gas), reversible solid oxide cells (rSOC) and biocatalytic synthesis (Biocat), framed by different System-Level Aspects and Modeling (SLAM) enables the ideal representation of the full hydrogen value chain at highest possible efficiency and flexibility.
- Implementation of a plasma burner in an entrained flow gasifier
- Determination of plasma assisted gasification kinetics
- Investigation of synthesis gas quality
- Conception of a pressurized reversible solid oxide cell test rig
- Testing the resistance of reversible solid oxide cells against gas impurities
- Thermodynamic assessment of the reversible solid oxide cell concept
- Development of enzymes for the production and use of hydrogen
- Production and separation of hydrogenases
- Hydrogen powered iso-butanol production


e-Gas
Biocat
rSOC

Innovation Character
The research carried out in the future lab will not only advance the complete hydrogen value chain to the next level, but also make key contributions to strengthen the competence portfolio applying next-generation scientific techniques and tools. With this mindset, we will increase the international visibility of Germany as the place for hydrogen research and set new impulses for trendsetting climate protection innovations for German industry. By further addressing system-level aspects and modelling, the concept will enable: providing green hydrogen from biogenic waste materials (e-Gas); producing large amounts of pure hydrogen from excess renewable electricity (high wind/PV times) at unpreceded efficiency using reversible solid oxide cells (rSOC); generating electricity from hydrogen and biogenic waste materials at very high efficiency whilst renewable electricity is scarce (e-Gas + rSOC + Biocat); and synthesizing base chemicals and energy carriers (e.g., isobutanol) based on green hydrogen and biogenic CO2 regardless of the electricity grid situation (e-Gas + rSOC + Biocat), whilst internally recovering almost all waste streams.

Contact Us
Chair of Energy Systems, TU Munich
Boltzmannstraße 15, 85748 Garching
Germany
redefine.les@ed.tum.de