Institute of Energy Technologies - Fundamental Electrochemistry (IET-1)
The Institute of Energy Technologies – Fundamental Electrochemistry (IET-1) at Forschungszentrum Jülich develops new key technologies in the field of electrochemical energy storage and conversion in order to actively help shape the energy transition and structural transformation in the Rhenish mining district. In view of the urgency of the energy transition, IET-1 pursues the goal of accelerating the innovation cycle holistically – from fundamental research to industrial application. The institute’s knowledge-based approach integrates synthesis, design, analysis, and simulation to build bridges from the laboratory scale to large-scale implementation. Core research topics include batteries, hydrogen production and utilization, and carbon cycles. The aim of the research and development work is to enable innovative, cost-effective, efficient, and durable technologies for the energy and material economy.
IET-1 coordinates the PHOENIX joint project. In the field of technology development and validation for low-temperature electrolysis for power-to-X (P2X), the institute is constructing several test benches with different cell formats in parallel to generate statistically robust data. The electrolysis cells with electrochemically active components are being scaled to multiple sizes. In addition, IET-1 is developing and operating two demonstrators for low-temperature electrolysis for P2X.
IET-1 also contributes to stack development for high-temperature electrolysis. This work includes electrochemical cell and stack characterization as well as CFD-based stack modelling. Furthermore, the institute develops and operates three PHOENIX demonstrators based on high-temperature electrolysis and fuel-cell technologies.
Finally, within the PHOENIX project, IET-1 is responsible for the digitalization of power-to-X value chains.
