DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.) is the German national research institute with a focus on aerospace, traffic and energy and coordinator of the project ECO2Fuel.
The DLR Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics is active in the fields of renewable energy research and technology development for efficient and low emission energy conversion and utilization.
The section Electrochemical Energy Technology has long-term experience in low temperature electrochemical conversion of CO2 into valuable chemicals, fuel cells (SOFC, PEFC; DMFC and AFC) and water electrolysis (AEM, alkaline, PEM, SOEC), production technologies e.g., plasma technology, and system technology.
The institute also works on techno-economic assessment of all aspects of renewable energy integration. Work on water electrolysis started in 1986 with the investigation and development of alkaline electrolysers and components. Around 60 persons work in the electrochemical energy technology division, of which 12 in low temperature electrolysis and systems, of which 3 are dealing with the low temperature electrochemical CO2 conversion in valuable fuels and chemicals.
At the DLR in the last 5 years test procedures for electrochemical CO2 conversion, PEM, and alkaline electrolysis were applied, and test procedure standardisation was worked out in several European fuel cell projects.
Main Tasks in the Project ECO2Fuel
- Project coordinator and management (WP1)
- Scientific support in the developing the CO2 electrolyser innovation platform (WP2)
- Support in the catalysts, and MEA optimization (WP3 and WP5, respectively)
- MEA testing and post mortem analysis (WP3 and WP5)