immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Brennstoffzellen

  • Fuel cells to support power grids

    Fuel cells to support power grids

    Researchers from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology(Empa) have conducted a joint project on the effect of hydrogen fuel cells in collaboration with the Hälg Group from St.Gallen, the Osterwalder Group, also based in St.Gallen, and Zurich-based H2 Energy AG. The experiment at the Empa Center in Dübendorf showed that the electrical energy generated by the fuel cells could relieve the burden on local power grids in district centers, according to a press release.

    The core of the project was to reduce the electricity consumption of heat pumps by producing electrical energy from local district energy cells using hydrogen fuel cells. This energy is fed into the grid to operate the heat pumps, thus reducing the load on the grid. At the same time, the experiment tested using special heat exchangers to supply average temperatures of around 35 degrees Celsius to the heating network of the NEST innovation building and the Empa campus in Dübendorf. The test, which ran from October 2023 to September 2025, showed that the district energy cells were able to smooth out peaks in electricity consumption and reduce the overall cost of peak load by 10 percent.

    “Our trials showed that fuel cells can effectively balance electrical and thermal peak loads in buildings. This made it clear that hydrogen-based peak load shaving is technically feasible and provides valuable insights for the control of complex energy systems,” Binod Prasad Koirala, Deputy Head of Empa’s Urban Energy Systems research department, is quoted as saying in the press release. When using green hydrogen, the fuel cells also make a contribution to reducing CO2 emissions.

  • Empa tests hydrogen use for peak loads

    Empa tests hydrogen use for peak loads

    On behalf of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy(SFOE), the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology(Empa) are investigating the use of hydrogen and fuel cells to reduce the load on the electricity grid on the coldest days. According to a press release, the joint project H2 districts was initiated for this purpose, in which the Hälg Group, the Osterwalder Group and H2 Energy AG are involved in addition to Empa. For the pilot project, a simulation model for operation under peak loads is being set up on the Empa site in Dübendorf.

    The Osterwalder Group is contributing its expertise and supplying renewable hydrogen. H2 Energy AG is contributing its many years of experience in the field of fuel cells. The Hälg Group is responsible for building technology.

    “We will set up a real system on the Empa campus in Dübendorf as part of the two research platforms ‘NEST’ and ‘move’ and validate the parameters for grid-friendly operation and the potential CO2 savings,” Philipp Heer, Head of the Energy Hub and Deputy Head of Empa’s Urban Energy Systems research department, is quoted as saying in the press release. The project is funded by the SFOE and is expected to run until September 2025.