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The Institute

The ZBT is one of Europe’s leading research institutes for fuel cells, hydrogen technologies and electrolysis processes. The ZBT is a sought-after research and development partner in European and national cutting-edge research and in industrial projects focussing on automotive applications and stationary energy generation.

From molecular structures to parts and components to entire systems, from the production of green hydrogen to refuelling and reconversion to electricity, from prototypes to small series and mass production – with our application-oriented research and development, we form a bridge between basic university research and industry, and the ZBT is a sought-after research and development partner in European and national top-level research and in industrial projects with a focus on automotive applications and stationary energy generation.

Independent Institute

The ZBT operates as a independent non-profit limited company. The University of Duisburg-Essen has been the sole shareholder since 2005.

Equipment

Our approximately 180 employees have access to an outstanding technical infrastructure, which includes powerful testing facilities, chemical laboratories and high-tech analytics.

Learn more about the ZBT

Our research

We stand for application-orientated cutting-edge research into hydrogen, fuel cells and electrolysis.

The ZBT – the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Center in Duisburg conducts application-oriented research on hydrogen-related topics, thus building a bridge between fundamental research and industry.

For more than 20 years, the ZBT has stood for research at the highest scientific level. Every day, more than 100 scientists work here to advance the current state of science towards the future. This has made the ZBT one of the leading institutions for hydrogen, fuel cell and electrolysis research in Germany and Europe for many years.

Projects

The ZBT is working closely with partners in science and industry to develop technical solutions for our future energy system.

In addition to fundamental research conducted alongside scientific partners, we cooperate with economy and science on a wide range of applied research and experimental development projects. Our portfolio is rounded off by exclusive contract research and various services.

370+

Completed projects since founding

Millions of euros in turnover since foundation

126

Current Sientific Staff

Our research areas

Fuel cell

Hydrogen

Electrolysis

Explore our research areas

Our Services

Fuel cells, electrolysis, hydrogen storage and refuelling, ammonia technologies and much more – from the nano to the system level. ZBT supports industry and research with a wide range of services.

Development – systematic design, material development and operating strategy for electrochemical components
Manufacturing process – layer technology covering component manufacturing and assembly through to quality assurance Measurement and testing procedures – ex situ examination of metallic bipolar plates and MEA components, in situ examination of fuel cell components
Measurement and testing methods – Ex-situ examination of metallic bipolar plates and MEA components, in-situ examination of fuel cell components
Consulting and studies – development of system architectures, integration of hydrogen solutions into production processes, analysis of scalability and economic efficiency
Modelling and simulation – analysis of transport and reaction processes along the hydrogen value chain
Contract research and project partnerships

Directly to our services

Development

Production Processes

Measurement and Testing Procedures

Consulting and Studies

Modelling and Simulation

Overview of our services

Join our team

Our mission: As one of Europe’s leading research institutes for fuel cells, hydrogen technologies and electrolysis processes, ZBT is working on the sustainable energy system of the future. ZBT is a sought-after research and development partner in European and national cutting-edge research and in industrial projects focussing on automotive applications and stationary energy generation.

Work with us on innovative technologies for climate and environmental protection!

P.S. Alongside people for research and development, we are always looking for support in administration and technical services.

News from the ZBT

An essential element of our research and development work is the transfer of results to industry and the interested general public. That is why we provide you with the latest news from our research, event announcements and reports, and useful facts from life at the institute.

The latest research findings, information and invitations to upcoming events or exhibitions, reports on visits by politicians and delegations from distant countries – you can find it all here.

And for the press, there is also up-to-date information and image material about the ZBT.

König Willem Alexander der Niederlande und NRW-Ministerpräsident Hendrik Wüst lassen sich das Wasserstoff-Testfeld des ZBT von einem Mitarbeiter erklären.

The ZBT News

25. November, 2024

Award-winning: ZBT researcher wins CENIDE Best Paper Award 2024

A paper on the key properties of carbon black materials for fuel cells and batteries, co-authored by ZBT researcher Adib Caidi, has been honoured with the CENIDE Best Paper Award 2024.

15. October, 2024

Award-winning: best master’s thesis of 2024

The master’s thesis of our research assistant Enado Pineti has been awarded the prize for the best academic thesis of 2024 by the German Hydrogen Association (DWV) e.V.

22. July, 2024

A colleague comes to work by bike…

…and causes a crowd! This happens when a fuel cell stack supports the cyclist when pedalling, the employer is a hydrogen research institute and the people on site are hydrogen, fuel cell and electro…

21. June, 2024

Full of energy: “Fuel cells” successful at dragon boat fun regatta

The ZBT dragon boat team shines at the regatta in Duisburg’s inner harbor with a strong 8th place out of more than 30 teams. This year’s Fun Cup has once again lived up to its name.