Within the FCTRAC project, a demonstration plant for sustainable, seasonally flexible, and decentralized hydrogen production from wood chips was realized

Rendering of the BioH2Module design in Griffen. The building model is viewed from above at an angle and is shown in white, with individual areas of the BioH2Module highlighted in color.

© TU Wien

Both a hydrogen production plant, known as the BioH2Module, and a fuel cell-powered tractor, known as the FCTRAC, were developed, built, and operated as part of the project. The high-purity hydrogen is produced from a product gas generated by gasification of wood chips and is subsequently converted into electricity in the tractor’s PEM fuel cell. To this end, the BioH2Module was integrated into an existing site for decentralized electricity and heat production based on wood chip CHP plants in Carinthia. One of the CHP plants was retrofitted for this purpose, enabling a switch between electricity and heat production (CHP operation with a gas engine) and hydrogen production (BioH2Module operation). This creates production flexibility by linking the electricity, heat, and hydrogen sectors. For example, electricity and heat can be produced during energy-intensive months, and hydrogen during less energy-intensive months. At the same time, the tractor’s operating period in an agricultural setting aligns with hydrogen production during less energy-intensive months. The goal of the project was to map the entire value chain from wood chips to high-purity hydrogen and its use in a fuel cell-electric tractor in an agricultural setting.

The graphic describes the circular economy of the BioH2Module: Gas can be produced from agricultural residues such as wood chips, manure, etc. The BioH2Module extracts high-purity hydrogen from this gas. This sustainable hydrogen can in turn be used as fuel for agricultural machinery. Field waste is turned into sustainable fuel for fuel cell tractors.

© TU Wien

The value chain from wood chips to high-purity hydrogen and its applications

Our Project Highlights

The research group made a significant contribution to the development of the BioH2module and also provided scientific support for the commissioning of the BioH2module. In parallel with the development and construction of the BioH2module, the process chain was set up on a pilot scale at TU Wien Technikum for experimental preliminary investigations. This process identified suitable operating windows for the BioH2Module, thereby supporting its commissioning. At the same time, the technical feasibility of producing hydrogen with a purity of 99.977% by volume from wood chips was demonstrated.

Five images showing the biogenic hydrogen production process at the Technikum of TU Wien are displayed side by side: fixed-bed gas generator, water gas shift unit, hot gas filter and RME scrubber, activated carbon and zinc ion adsorber, silica gel adsorber, and pressure swing adsorber.

© TU Wien

Thanks to our infrastructure, which includes a pilot plant for gas processing and hydrogen separation that is flexible in terms of gas feedstock and equipped with comprehensive measurement technology, we have not only gained expertise but also created a unique environment for conducting a wide variety of experiments on hydrogen production. Open questions—ranging from suitable feedstocks to process optimization—can be addressed and answered through experiments, modeling, and analysis.

The FCTRAC project has also been nominated for two prestigious awards: the Houska Prize 2025 (Houska Prize FCTRAC intro video) in the “University Research” category and the State Prize for Technology 2024 in the “Mobility Technologies” category.

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Staatspreis Technologie 2024: FCTRAC

BioH2Module and FCTRAC Facts

The project aims to develop a fuel cell tractor that meets the specific requirements of tractor propulsion systems. Furthermore, there is currently no infrastructure or refueling facilities in place for hydrogen-powered tractors. Another goal of the project is therefore local hydrogen production from biomass via hydrogen separation from synthesis gas, which originates, for example, from decentralized wood gas combined heat and power (CHP) plants, biogas plants, or wastewater treatment plants. The system to be developed (BioH2Module) is intended to be flexibly connectable to the aforementioned sources and, in addition to the separation and purification of hydrogen, to include a downstream dispensing system (refueling station) with intermediate storage for an “island solution.” Since CHP plants and biogas plants are very common in rural areas and sewage treatment plants in municipal areas, hydrogen fuel can be produced right where tractors are used.

01.05.2020 till 31.07.2024

Consortium lead
TU Wien – Institute of Powertrain and Automotive Technology

Contact:
Assistant Prof. Dr.techn. Johannes Konrad, MSc

Logo of the funding agency Climate and Energyfund Austria

© Klima- und Energiefonds

FCTRAC is part of the funding program: eMobility Lighthouses, Zero Emission Mobility (2nd Call for Proposals)

Project number: 878113

This work was carried out within the framework of the “FCTRAC” project, which is supported by funds from the Climate and Energy Fund and implemented in line with the “Zero Emission Mobility” program.

FCTRAC on the Climate and Energy Fund website.

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