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Hydrogen Engineering gets its own building on the THWS campus in Schweinfurt
02.25.2025 |
The time capsule is embedded in a concrete block (left to right): Prof. Martin Naumann (THWS Vice-President), Stephan Kranig (CEO of the Riedel Bau Group), Sandro Kirchner (State Secretary in the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior) and Sebastian Remelé (Mayor of Schweinfurt). Photo: THWS/Eva Kaupp
The time capsule is packed: The contents include a letter from the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Prof. Dr. Johannes Paulus, responsible for the hydrogen technology department at THWS, to those born after the event. Other contents included an issue of the Schweinfurter daily newspaper, an annual report, brochures from THWS and a few small packs of THWS gummy bears. Photo: THWS/Eva Kaupp
Festive atmosphere despite the rain: In addition to the companies involved in the construction, the guests included representatives of the municipal utilities of Schweinfurt, Haßfurt and Münnerstadt as well as regional industrial partners. Photo: THWS/Eva Kaupp
Finally, the time capsule is sealed with mortar and stone slabs. Photo: THWS/Eva Kaupp
The start of construction of the new modular building for hydrogen engineering on the Ledward Campus of the University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) in Schweinfurt was officially celebrated with the sealing of a time capsule. This task was jointly carried out by Prof. Martin Naumann, THWS Vice President for Sustainability and Infrastructure, Sebastian Remelé, Mayor of Schweinfurt, Sandro Kirchner, State Secretary, and Stephan Kranig, a board member of the Riedel Bau Group.
The first structures of the new building are already visible, and the building is expected to be completed by the end of the year, with occupancy scheduled for next year.
Bavarian Science Minister Markus Blume was represented at the ceremony by State Secretary Sandro Kirchner from the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior. He emphasised that the state has invested around 5.5 billion euros through the High-Tech Agenda Bavaria, in which hydrogen plays a key role as the energy carrier of the future. However, such initiatives require regional actors to implement the plans – and THWS plays a key role in this field. Kirchner congratulated THWS on the new modular building, calling it “a gem in Bavaria.”
About the Modular Building for Hydrogen Technology
The new hydrogen technology laboratory building will provide approximately 1,000 square meters of usable space, including laboratory and office spaces for research, teaching, and technology transfer. Three specialised laboratories will cover the entire hydrogen process chain. In addition, studies on material behaviour and operational aspects, such as plant safety, will be conducted. Existing systems, such as the components of the hydrogen-powered lightweight aircraft Taifun H₂, the fuel cell performance test bench, and the electrolyser test bench, will also be housed in the new building.
The modular building will have a wooden exterior with a green façade. To meet safety requirements, the structure will be equipped with sensors that continuously measure hydrogen levels in the air. If a threshold value is exceeded, an alarm will go off and ventilation openings will allow the hydrogen to dissipate. For emergency scenarios, rupture panels are planned, explained Vice-President Prof. Naumann. In such cases, special structures on the roof, similar to wind flaps, will open to release the pressure without damaging the building – a technique also used in waste incineration plants.
THWS has been researching in hydrogen technology for about 20 years and was awarded the VDI Unterfranken prize for its work in 2008. Since the winter semester of 2021/22, the university has been offering a bachelor’s degree in hydrogen engineering to train future engineers in this field. Recently, in 2023, the degree was expanded with the launch of the transnational programme offered through THWS Campus GATE in collaboration with the German Jordanian University (GJU). The transnational programme offers students the opportunity to start their academic journey in Jordan, at GJU, and finish their studies at THWS in Schweinfurt, Germany, where they will graduate with a German degree that will open many doors for their future careers. This new building is a major step forward in the preparation of future hydrogen engineers, with a strong emphasis on practical experience.