Burckhardt, GRZ To Develop Hydrogen Compressor

Burckhardt Compression signs an agreement with GRZ for the joint development of new hydrogen compression technology.

Burckhardt Compression is cooperating with GRZ Technologies, a spin-off of Laboratory of Materials for Renewable Energy from EPFL Lausanne, Switzerland, to develop a new hydrogen compression technology. It will be deployed in hydrogen fuel stations, hydrogen energy storage systems and other applications and will make use of thermal active metal hydrides. Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier that offers carbon-neutral energy for industry and mobility.

“The increasing demand for gases like hydrogen as a carbon-neutral energy source creates promising market opportunities for Burckhardt Compression,” said Marcel Pawlicek, CEO Burckhardt Compression. “We are therefore monitoring and exploring these developments very closely and initiating research activities in the relevant areas of application at such an early stage.”

The Static Hydrogen Compressor from Burckhardt Compression operates without moving parts but with thermal active metal hydrides. The Static Hydrogen Compressor is based on the GRZ’s HyCo laboratory scale metal hydrides compression solution that is already in use for small amounts of hydrogen. Burckhardt Compression will scale up the solution for the new, strongly developing market of hydrogen refueling stations and hydrogen energy storage systems. These compressors operate with metal hydrides and will be designed for high-pressure solutions of 200, 350 and 700 bar.

The noise and vibration-free compressor is hermetically sealed from the environment and therefore operates without any gas leakage and can be used in sensitive areas. As the compressor is also completely oil-free, it can be used for hydrogen energy storage purposes too. Furthermore, thanks to its minimal moving parts design, this new compressor technology will be low maintenance.