Revolution in hydrogen transport: New project starts in MV!

Revolution in hydrogen transport: New project starts in MV!

There is currently a lot happening in the area of ​​hydrogen technology in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The “FormaPort” research network is committed to setting new standards for the transport and storage of hydrogen. With an impressive total budget of 4.4 million euros, the project aims to develop innovative solutions, particularly using formate salts as a chemical storage medium. These interesting developments in the hydrogen sector are not only local, but could also impact international markets.

On August 8, 2025, Economics Minister Dr. Wolfgang Blank in Rostock received the funding decision, from which the Wismar University of Applied Sciences will receive around 1.1 million euros to advance its research activities. The project aims to develop a continuous industrial process for hydrogen storage. What is particularly impressive is that formate salts can absorb and release hydrogen with the help of catalysts. The advantages of this method are that it is easy to handle and comparatively low in danger, which favors decentralized hydrogen provision.

Interdisciplinary collaboration for innovative solutions

An interdisciplinary team of four partners ensures successful implementation: AKROS Energy GmbH from Laage is leading the project and is working on the development of demonstration systems. The Leibniz Institute for Catalysis e. V. (LIKAT) in Rostock optimizes the catalysts, while Wismar University takes care of the process engineering development. TAB GmbH from Bentwisch is also responsible for building an energy-efficient crystallizer. Together, these partners lay the foundation for a robust and scalable system.

But why is hydrogen so important? It's good that renewable energies represent a promising solution in our country. Hydrogen can be produced through water electrolysis using excess electricity from these sustainable sources. Innovative storage solutions are essential to make optimal use of the fluctuating generation potential. Underground storage in salt caverns is particularly suitable for this purpose: in Europe there is a potential of over 80 petawatt hours available.

A future with hydrogen

According to the National Hydrogen Council, all existing cavern storage facilities in Germany will need to be converted by 2050 in order to realize these capacities. This means a total storage capacity of 24 terawatt hours, with the possibility of even gaining an additional 14 terawatt hours. Such developments not only offer new technologies, but also a variety of project opportunities for companies.

The Fraunhofer Society emphasizes the need to build a CO2-neutral hydrogen economy in order to achieve climate goals. Hydrogen is not only a link between the electrical and material worlds, but also a key component for reducing CO2 emissions.

“FormaPort” is therefore not only a pilot project for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, but also a good example of how interdisciplinary research contributes to the development of sustainable energy solutions. The collaboration of the various partners and the commitment to innovative storage technologies could be crucial in ensuring that we achieve a sustainable energy future.

Further information on the progress of the “FormaPort” project can be found on the website IWR available as well as interesting insights into hydrogen storage can be found at Fichtner and the Fraunhofer Society.