DLR is developing and testing new types of propulsion systems based on hydrogen fuel cells with an output in the megawatt range, in Empfingen, Germany.
On 28 October 2024, the German Aerospace Center (DLR – Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt) in Empfingen, Baden-Württemberg, launched the ‘BALIS’ test field. Here, DLR is developing and testing new fuel cell propulsion systems for various modes of transport.
At present, these systems are not yet available on the market. If hydrogen from renewable sources – so-called green hydrogen – is used in fuel cells, they enable CO2-free and thus climate- and environmentally friendly mobility.
The facility is located on the innovation campus of the E2U Empfinger Entwicklungszentrum für Umwelttechnologie (Development Centre for Environmental Technology). The official opening ceremony took place there on 28 October 2024 with representatives from politics, public administration and industry. The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport is supporting the BALIS test field with around 29 million euros in funding.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Karsten Lemmer, member of the DLR Executive Board and responsible for innovation, transfer and scientific infrastructure: “The dialogue between research and industry that arises from the construction and use of large-scale facilities like BALIS is invaluable for both sides. Together, we are demonstrating that new technologies are not only functionally viable, but that they are being developed to a size and at an economic cost that make them an interesting solution for industry. Particularly in the field of aviation, the step from a stable propulsion system on the ground to qualification for use in aircraft is highly complex and takes time. A facility like BALIS provides the basis and reliability needed for the transformation of aviation.”
Hartmut Höppner, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport: “The opening of the test field is a decisive step on the road to climate neutrality by 2045. Transport faces major challenges and hydrogen offers us the opportunity to develop and implement emission-free propulsion systems for different modes of transport. We are providing targeted funding to support research and development in order to create innovative and ultimately marketable solutions. Together with industry and science, we are laying the foundations for sustainable mobility.”
Prof. Dr. Meike Jipp, DLR Executive Board Member for Energy and Transport: “Hydrogen technologies are central to energy and transport research at DLR. With its interdisciplinary expertise in aviation, space, energy, transport, security and digitalisation, DLR covers the entire process chain like no other research centre: from materials and processes for producing hydrogen from renewable resources, as well as applications in mobile and stationary systems, through to system analysis. It shows the contexts and conditions under which hydrogen technologies can create an economically viable, forward-looking, safe and sustainable energy and mobility system.”
Dagmar Fehler, CEO and spokesperson for NOW GmbH: “Hydrogen is a crucial technological building block, especially for climate-friendly aviation. The DLR test field provides an important basis for the development of fuel cell-based powertrains in Germany. It is unique in terms of its size and performance as well as the scope of funding within the National Innovation Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology. The project has already started using the facility, which shows that BALIS is all about transferring climate-friendly drive systems from the drawing board to reality.”
The complex and modular BALIS test field makes it possible to thoroughly examine individual components and entire drive trains. These include the fuel cell system itself, electric motors, refuelling infrastructure as well as control and regulation technology. The system is unique worldwide due to its flexible design and the associated research methodology. All components of the test field are housed in separate containers. The DLR Institute for Technical Thermodynamics is responsible for the project.
In addition to setting up and operating the test field, DLR is also developing its own electric drive system in the megawatt power class. It consists of a fuel cell system, hydrogen tank, electric motor, control components and power electronics.
Funding support from the federal government
The BALIS project was funded as part of the National Innovation Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP) with a total of almost 29 million euros from the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) and financed by the Energy and Climate Fund. The funding guideline was coordinated by the National Organisation for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW) and implemented by the project management organisation Jülich (PtJ).
Further information on the test field on the DLR website
To the BALIS 2.0 project (in German)
About NOW GmbH:
NOW GmbH has been supporting the federal government since 2008 in its climate and industrial policy goals. One of the most important tasks of the federally-owned company is to develop, support and evaluate funding programmes for climate-neutral mobility and energy supply. The NOW GmbH experts supervise projects in hydrogen fuel cells, batteries and renewable fuels; they reimagine mobility and fuels for cars, buses, trains, commercial vehicles, ships and airplanes – and support the establishment and further development of charging infrastructure as well as hydrogen refuelling stations for cars and trucks. More information on NOW can be found here.
Photo: DLR