Pilot plants and test facilities

Atomic Force Microscopy

The atomic force microscopy (AFM) research facility at the DLR Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics in Oldenburg enables the nanoscale surface analysis of components for fuel cell and electrolysis applications.

Fuel cell-based powertrain for aircraft 1.5+ MW

BALIS

BALIS comprises the upscaling of an aircraft fuel cell powertrain to 1.5+ megawatts, including the investigation and interconnection of the core components in a ground-based test environment

e-XPlore

The transportable research platform e-XPlore, which is currently under construction, will enable the investigation of SOC reactors with several SOC stacks in pressurised electrolysis and fuel cell operation.

GALACTICA

The GALACTICA research environment at the DLR Institute of Technical Thermodynamics in Stuttgart offers the possibility of investigating reactors with several solid oxide cell stacks (SOC).

High Temperature-Furnace

The high temperature furnace of the DLR Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics in Oldenburg can be used for of thermal treatment of different materials, e.g., carbons or oxides up to 3000 °C under inter gas atmosphere or up to 1200 °C under reductive hydrogen atmosphere. This offers the possibility of several material modifications and high temperature synthesis.

HORST

The HORST test environment at DLR's Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics in Stuttgart enables the investigation of solid oxide cell stacks (SOC) in pressurised electrolysis and fuel cell operation.

Test facility for heat storage in molten salt

TESIS

The Test Facility for Heat Storage in Molten Salt (TESIS) at the DLR Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics in Cologne is the first large-scale research facility in Germany in which molten salt storage facilities and associated technologies are investigated on a relevant scale. It is used to develop new storage technologies and to improve materials, components and processes for the use of molten salt storage systems in the field of renewable energies.

µ-Computertomography (µ-CT)

Non-destructive, 3D imaging examination of fuel cells, batteries, electrolysers and other technologies at the Oldenburg site.