Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental-, Saftey and Energy Technology

Core-H₂storage

Energy-efficient and reliable storage of Hydrogen enabling a flexible and scalable energy source.

A switch from fossil fuels to renewable energies is essential in order to achieve climate targets. In addition to generating renewable energy, it is also important to reduce energy comsumption and use energy efficiently. The state-of-the-art methods for H₂ storage require a lot of energy: the cryogenic storage needs about 40 percent, and the high-pressure storage (70 MPa) requires about 20 percent of the energy content of the stored hydrogen. The goal of our project is to minimize this energy expenditure to make the H₂ storage more efficient. We want to develop multipurpose, broadly accessible and secure low-pressure H₂-storage tanks. The main advantage of this solution is the low energy requirement and high safety of the H₂ storage compared to the state-of-the-art at high pressures (35 MPa, 70 MPa) or cryogenic temperatures (20 K).

Project goals

The scientific and technical objective of "Core-H2storage" is to develop a prototype that demonstrates the charging and discharging of hydrogen storage systems at pressures of up to 3.5 MPa and at ambient temperature for various applications.

Common methods of hydrogen storage such as compression or liquefaction are energy-intensive and place high demands on the materials used. «Core-H2storage» focuses on solid-based H₂ storage methods. Here two different systems will be investigated: porous materials, like Si-Aerogels, and high-entropy alloys. The H₂-storage in both materials will be done under moderate conditions. Only the temperature for the release of the H₂ from the high-entropy alloy will be higher than in case of the aerogels. Therefore, the requirements for the tanks are low compared to the typical tanks for very high pressures or low temperatures.

Project partners

• Amazemet, Warsaw, Poland
• Faculty of Sciences, University of Monastir, Tunisie
• Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT, Oberhausen, Germany
• Institute for Non-Classical Chemistry (INC) at Leipzig University, Germany
• Company JA-Gastechnology, Burgwedel, Germany
• VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Energy Research center, Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic
• Warsaw University of Technology (WUT, Poland)

The next project meeting will take place during the 28th annual International Energy and Environment Conference (IEEC). It will be held from September 8–10, 2025, at Resort Sepetná in the picturesque Beskid Mountains of Czechia. Organized by VSB–TU Ostrava’s Energy Research Centre and Department of Power Engineering, the conference aims to foster scientific progress and global knowledge exchange on the energy‑environment nexus. Its mission is to address critical global energy challenges – such as energy production instability, import dependency, and environmental threats – by promoting alternative resources, efficient technology, and cost‑effective transitions away from fossil fuels, all while safeguarding society’s living standards. IEEC brings together leading scholars, researchers, and industry experts through keynote talks, oral and poster sessions. With its international collaborations and partnering journals (including Green Energy and Fuel Research), the conference supports wider dissemination of groundbreaking research and facilitates networking that underpins future sustainable energy solutions.

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