H2-Reallabor Burghausen / ChemDelta Bavaria

Project background

To combat climate change, completely new challenges are arising for Germany as an industrial location on an unprecedented scale. This is particularly true for the chemical industry and traditional chemical locations such as the Bavarian Chemical Triangle. The aim of the H2-Reallabor Burghausen / ChemDelta Bavaria is to transform ChemDelta Bavaria into one of the largest green chemical locations in Germany in order to secure the location and thus several thousand jobs and to maintain the value chain that is important for the German economy. The results are intended to show a way beyond the Bavarian Chemical Triangle to establish a sustainable, competitive and resilient chemical industry in Germany. The transformation will only succeed if both overarching synergies are identified and the needs are determined in their entirety. In addition to a consolidated transformation strategy regarding the future energy supply, the sites in the Bavarian Chemical Triangle also lack concepts for transforming the various production paths in particular.

This is where the H2 real-world laboratory comes in with a holistic approach. A detailed system analysis of the region is planned. Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences is contributing to this by identifying the potential for material flow coupling in ChemDelta Bavaria. In order to adapt the individual existing value chains to the new framework conditions, Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences is working on explicit problems in the chemical industry in five technologically focused work packages. In particular, this involves the conversion to electricity/hydrogen-based processes, implementation and feasibility studies regarding a closed-loop recycling economy and securing the supply of basic chemicals to the site.

Project objective

The aim of the H2 Real Lab is:

• To determine the material and electricity requirements of the local chemical sites under various future scenarios, to show dependencies and integration options and to identify corresponding generation capacities to meet these requirements,
to develop new technologies for the production of sustainable basic chemicals and for the utilization of residual materials in closed cycles and to bring them to application maturity,To make the research findings available to the entire Bavarian Chemical Triangle, thereby shortening the time it takes for sustainable technologies to reach industrial maturity and accelerating the transformation of the location.
• As a pilot project, the focus is on the transformation of the Bavarian Chemical Triangle towards sustainable H2-based chemical production.

Project procedure

The Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences is participating in the project as part of five technologically focused work packages: In WP1, Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences' task is to identify the potential of material flow coupling in ChemDelta Bavaria. In WP2, Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences' contribution includes the development of the upscaling of a digital twin for a power-to-methanol plant. In WP4, the work is supported in two independent sub-packages: In the first sub-package, a container plant will be designed and constructed to clean and purify synthesis gas produced from the plasma gasification of residual materials in order to make it available for subsequent utilization paths. In the second work package, the hydrogenolysis of biomass and polymer residues is being investigated.

Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences is also active in two sub-packages in work package 5: firstly, the adsorbents produced by project partner Wacker are being characterized. Here, adsorption equilibria as well as the surface and associated properties are to be measured. In a further sub-package, the formulation and shaping of the adsorbents will be investigated. In WP6, Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences is providing support with the development of a separation concept for the gaseous and liquid product streams.

Innovation

In order to strengthen knowledge and technology transfer and institutionalize practical research, development and implementation of H2 technologies, a hydrogen pilot plant "H2ChemDelta" is being created at the Burghausen campus, which will also be included in teaching. This will give students the opportunity to engage with hydrogen technologies in the context of the climate-neutral transformation of the chemical industry in internships and theses.

The hydrogen technical center will also form the regional nucleus for future teaching, research and collaborative projects that accompany the transformation process of the chemical industry after the end of the project. The practical orientation of a university of applied sciences opens up the opportunity for SMEs in particular to participate in projects in the field of hydrogen and establish a corresponding value chain. This also applies to related specialist areas and industries such as process automation, which enables the development of specific products for the future hydrogen market and the associated changes in the target markets.