Year

2024

The idea

With the BionicHydrogenBattery, the energy medium hydrogen can be converted into formic acid, stored, transported, and then reconverted.

The objective

Storing and transporting hydrogen is complicated and energy-intensive. The BionicHydrogenBat-tery offers a forward-looking solution in keeping with the principles of a circular economy and biotransformation.

Technical data

  • Operating temperature: 65 °C
  • Operating pressure: 1.5 bar
  • Bacterium: Thermoanaerobacter kivui
  • Automation system: CPX-E, CPX-AP-I

Function

With its metabolic processes, the bacterium “Thermoanaerobacter kivui” is capable of converting hydrogen into formic acid and releasing it again in a reverse process. By means of automated bio-reactors fitted with sensors and control technology, these processes can be controlled with maxi-mum energy efficiency. Hydrogen as an energy medium can thus be stored and transported over long distances.

Safety

The bacteria used are anaerobic – they grow without oxygen. In case of a leakage in the system, they would immediately die and therefore pose no risk to humans. Only very small amounts of oxygen are present in the BionicHydrogenBattery.

A circular principle

The biotechnological processes between hydrogen and formic acid take place in a cycle, in which the bacteria serve as catalysts and are not consumed. With appropriate regeneration times, they are able to repeat the conversion reactions as often as required.

Material

BionicHydrogenBattery