The main problem, challenge addressed by the research project
Due to the enhanced concerns in connection to global warming, an increasing attention is devoted to the exploitation of renewable energy sources. The expansion of such technologies is hindered by their intermittency, and by the fact that there is no universally adequate solution for the storage of the generated electricity. The chemical storage of the intermittently generated surplus energy offers a solution which can be easily integrated in industrial processes. Such technologies could therefore be of utmost importance in the future economy. To this aim, a complex knowledge base and competence pool need to be created to enable the competitiveness of national economic actors.
Objectives of the research project
The objective of the National Laboratory is to establish the scientific and technological, legal, economic and industrial law background of small footprint energy technologies, especially those of H2 production/transport/storage/use and CO2 utilization (CCU), contributing to the establishment of a sustainable energy management and chemical industry. Among the main activities of the University of Szeged, high emphasis is placed on the examination and development of electrolyzer and catalytic technologies.
The most important activities of the research project
I) Development of a test framework to compare different H2 and CCU technologies.
II) Development of scaled-up H2 generator and CO2 converting electrolyzers and catalytic technologies.
III) Examination of disruptive H2 generator/use and CCU procedures.
IV) Economic and legal analysis of CCU and hydrogen production technologies.
V) Examination of reusing Li-ion batteries.
Expected results, TRL
- High impact publications
- New researchers and new academic degrees
- New R+D+I projects
- New international projects
We conduct research and development from fundamental (TRL1-3) to prototype levels (TRL6-7). Afterwards, we are planning to further develop, validate and produce these technologies in the Science Parks close to project partners. Specifically, prototypes of two test systems (electrocatalysis and thermal catalysis) (TRL 7), prototypes of scaled-up electrolyzer cells (TRL 6) and a demonstrator of the GTL reactor (TRL 5).
Project partners – academic and industrial
- University of Pécs
- Budapest University of Technology and Economics
- University of Debrecen
- Centre for Energy Research
- University of Miskolc
- John von Neumann University
- University of Pannonia
- University of Győr
- University of Szeged
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences
A possible future research avenue, new projects and cooperation possibilities
Examination and development of disruptive H2 generator and CCU technologies.
