COMET Centre

The HyCentA COMET Centre focuses on addressing all issues along the value chain of the sustainable hydrogen economy with cross-cutting scientific methods and tools as well as technological research and development. The scientific methods are based on advanced development tools corresponding to the technological research priorities in the technology areas of electrolysis, storage systems, fuel cells, H2 systems and infrastructures, and recycling. Electrolysis and fuel cells are largely based on the same electrochemical principles and cell concepts, so that the in-depth understanding and knowledge gained can be shared and methods as well as experimental results, especially with regard to degradation mechanisms, can be transferred. Hydrogen storage and infrastructure technologies offer high synergy potentials for all research areas, such as new processes and products for on-board and stationary systems as well as in hydrogen production and power generation. Design concepts are derived, exchanged and optimised as well as analyses and definitions of overarching safety standards are jointly developed. There is considerable methodological and thematic overlap in the areas of recycling and system optimisation. These cross-cutting issues are addressed holistically on the basis of advanced simulation tools, systemic approaches, sophisticated testing procedures and measurement techniques. Results and findings from these methods are incorporated into all research topics, as are the results on system designs, material design and applied production and recycling processes. The structure and organisation of the HyCentA COMET centre bundles the existing individual competences and thus generates and establishes a holistic research and development approach; see figure below.