Introduction

The Westphalian Energy Institute (Westfälisches Energieinstitut) is a central research institute of Westfälische Hochschule University of Applied Sciences in Gelsenkirchen connecting all competences in energy technology across all campuses and departments.

Since its foundation in 2012, the institute with more than 23 professors, scientific employees, and postgraduates was able to establish partnerships with industrial companies as well as with scientific institutes in Europe to undertake applied research and development activities, especially in the field of hydrogen and fuel cells.

Focus areas of the research:

• Renewable Energies
• Energy Conversion and Distribution
• Energy Economics and Energy Policy
• Usage of Energy

Main activities on fuel cells, electrolysers and hydrogen

Main competences and lines of research

• Fast and/or in-depth electrochemical characterization of fuel cell/electrolyser cells and stacks, mainly PEM and AEM based systems
• Performance and durability characterization of PEM and AEM stacks and components in various conditions, including high pressure operation (PEMEL up to 100 bar)
• Catalyst, electrode, MEA, cell, and stack simulation, development and manufacture
• Ex-situ analyses and characterization of components and materials

Relevant national/European projects ongoing or concluded

European:

• PRETZEL: FCH-JU GRANT 779478
• NEWELY: FCH-JU GRANT 875118

National:

• AEMruhr (coming soon)
• HyHeatStore, EFRE-0801552
• LIKELY, EFRE-0801480
• HYDRA 15, EFRE-0801601
• HyPresMEA, 13FH257PA6
• IT-PEM, 19817BG

Research infrastructures

• SEVERAL TEST BENCHES FOR PEM FUEL CELLS (30 W to 1.8 kW)
• 1 TEST BENCH FOR PEM ELECTROLYSIS (1 kW)
• 1 GAS SENSOR TEST BENCH (N2, O2, H2 up to 60 bar)
• 1 TEST BENCH FOR HIGH PRESSURE ELECTROLYSIS (25 kW, 3 kA)
• 2 TEST BENCHS for AEM ELCROLYSIS (under construction, 1 kW, 50 kW)
• SEVERAL GALVANIC CELLS AND POENTIOSTATS/EIS (1 cm2, rotating disk, 1 A, 5 A, 100 A)