Hydrogen -
energy carrier
of the future
Our Mission
hyBit generates basic knowledge for the development of the hydrogen economy in the north of Germany. Our focus is on the transformation of large-scale industrial infrastructures via so-called hydrogen hubs in Bremen and northern Germany. The Bremen industrial port with its key actors such as the ArcelorMittal steelworks and swb is the departure point of the hyBit project. In addition to the analysis of technological solutions, our innovative research approach aims to actively involve different stakeholders from business, politics and society in our research agenda.
In this regard, hyBit advances new methodological approaches for the holistic evaluation and development of the site potential. The work will culminate in the creation of a virtual transformation platform - a digital twin of the site. It will offer maximum freedom of action for the analysis of various scenarios of the transformation process and will ultimately enable resilient management of this transformation.
Our Structure
The large-scale research project hyBit started in September 2022 and is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research with around 30 million euros. In the first 3.5-year project phase, hyBit will create the conceptual foundations for further research and set up the transformation platform. Based on this, a second project phase will aim to carry out concrete implementation steps.
The hyBit project is divided into five research clusters. At the heart of the project is the transformation platform (Cluster 1), which forms the basis for a cross-sector roadmap and monitoring process. Clusters 2-4 focus on such important areas of transformation as industrial applications, heavy goods traffic, port logistics, processes for hydrogen production from residues and heat extraction for districts and service centres. These topics are analysed in depth as coupled and integrated transformation processes and implemented as examples. Cluster 5 focuses on the spatial expansion of the analyses with regard to synergies with other hydrogen activities in Germany, Europe and worldwide.
The Region
The North German Hydrogen Strategy sees hydrogen hubs as the starting point for building a North German hydrogen economy. These hubs bundle the production, distribution and use of hydrogen in one place, especially in the areas of mobility and industry. Northern Germany offers excellent conditions for a large-scale hydrogen economy with the combination of available port facilities logistics, installed onshore and offshore wind farms with direct access to the North German cavern storage and the European electricity and gas grid infrastructure.
The Hydrogen Hub
The Bremen industrial port with the ArcelorMittal steelworks and 50 other companies from various sectors is a fundamental economic site for the state of Bremen. The starting point of hyBit is the steelworks, which will have an enormous demand for hydrogen in the course of the envisaged transformation process. Today it accounts for over 50% of Bremen's CO2 emissions and, as part of its transformation, can be seen as the key to quickly achieving Bremen's climate goals. The steel industry is one of the most advanced industries that through research and innovation is starting the conversion process from coal and natural gas to green hydrogen. In the future, the Bremen steelworks will be supplied with green hydrogen by means of electrolysis.
OUR PARTNERS
The hyBit project consortium, led by the University of Bremen, involves 19 partners from science and industry.
Project partners include the Wuppertal Institute, the Bremen Institute for Production and Logistics (BIBA), the Fraunhofer IFAM, the Fraunhofer ICT, the Fraunhofer UMSICHT and the Bremen University of Applied Sciences, as well as key players in Bremen's industry such as ArcelorMittal Bremen, swb and BLG.
The University of Bremen is represented by eleven working groups from the fields of technology, humanities and social sciences. The wide-ranging expertise of the project consortium allows for a strong interdisciplinary research approach of hyBit.
