April 21, 2026 | Generating electricity and hydrogen in a carbon neutral way

DLR and South Korea launch research cooperation

DLR and KIMM sign cooperation agreement for joint research into CO2-neutral electricity and hydrogen production
From left: Andreas Huber, Director of the DLR Institute of Combustion Technology; Anke Kovar, Head of DLR South-West Sites; Seog-Hyeon Ryu, President of KIMM; Dong-Keun Song, Director of KIMM.
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The DLR Institute of Combustion Technology is developing fuel-flexible combustion chambers for gas turbines
Using laser spectroscopy, high-pressure combustion chamber test benches and computer simulations, DLR researchers are working on efficient, low-emission combustion of non-fossil fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia.
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The DLR Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics and KIMM aim to increase the efficiency of industry-ready high-temperature electrolysers
The focus is on numerical simulations of electrochemical processes and testing of solid oxide steam electrolysers under realistic operating conditions.
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The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) and the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) signed a research cooperation agreement in Stuttgart on 21 April 2026. With a research budget of nine million euros, DLR and KIMM will spend the next five years developing and testing cost-effective technologies for a carbon dioxide (CO2)-neutral energy supply based on hydrogen.

One of the research goals is to develop fuel-flexible combustion chambers for gas turbines suitable for hydrogen and ammonia. Hydrogen can be chemically stored in ammonia and transported efficiently. Ammonia can also be used as a fuel, as its combustion produces no carbon dioxide.

Further priorities of the planned collaboration include the development of novel solid oxide steam electrolysers and operational strategies for industrial hydrogen production using waste heat from industry.

The DLR Institute of Combustion Technology and the DLR Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics are both involved in the project.

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Jens Mende

Corporate Communications Stuttgart and Ulm
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
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