FUTURED. ZAL Magazin 2025

IMPULSES & OUTLOOK
WHEN AVIATION
MEETS MARITIME:
JOINT HYDROGEN
RESEARCH AT ZAL
8
In March, ZAL received a funding of 12 million
euros to expand its hydrogen research
and, for the first time, initiate a collaboration
with the maritime industry to jointly
advance hydrogen applications. The funding
provider is the German Federal Ministry
for Digital and Transport (BMDV).
With a total funding of 69.8 million euros,
BMDV is supporting the establishment of a
North German Hanseatic Hydrogen Center for
Aviation and Maritime (H 2 AM), which aims to
drive hydrogen and fuel cell research in aviation
and maritime at three locations: Hamburg,
Stade and Bremen / Bremerhaven. Responsibility
for the Hamburg-based projects
lies with ZAL GmbH and the Fraunhofer Center
for Maritime Logistics and Services (CML).
ZAL is utilizing the funding to expand its inhouse
Fuel Cell Lab. This includes the provision
of a hydrogen liquefier as well as the construction
of two test chambers: one for altitude simulation
and another for cryogenic applications
with liquid hydrogen at -253°C. The facility is
designed to support stakeholders engaged in
hydrogen research and development. In alignment
with H 2 AM, the expansion will particularly
focus on filling gaps in testing and certification
services currently lacking in the market,
while also fostering international collaboration
to establish standards. To this end, ZAL
offers start-ups, SMEs as well as industry and
research partners an ideal development environment
to position themselves competitively
on a global scale.
A new milestone for ZAL is the upcoming collaboration
with the maritime industry. For this
purpose, Fraunhofer CML, also a recipient of
H 2 AM funding, will establish a laboratory within
the ZAL Fuel Cell Lab. The joint research will
focus on system integration, infrastructure, refueling
as well as the reliability and safety of
hydrogen applications. To achieve these goals,
ZAL will interconnect existing experts, bring in
new external partners and build fresh collaborations.
Hamburg’s already strong hydrogen
network will gain further momentum. ZAL and
CML expect significant synergy effects from
this partnership, bringing aviation and maritime
closer to their shared objective of reducing
emissions in mobility.