The expansion of renewable energy sources places increasing demands on energy storage and the demand-oriented provision of electrical energy. Hydrogen can play a key role in this context as a storable energy carrier. A prerequisite for this is the intelligent coupling of the electricity and gas sectors, enabling stable, secure, and efficient operation even under fluctuating energy generation conditions.
The CoupleIT! project involves the development and investigation of an integrated energy system consisting of an electrical island grid and a hydrogen island grid. The two grids are coupled by a reversible fuel cell-electrolyzer system. This so-called REDIBEL system can convert electrical energy into hydrogen through electrolysis and, when required, convert the stored hydrogen back into electricity using a fuel cell. Digital control and communication technologies coordinate energy generation, storage, and utilization.
The project is structured into two closely interconnected subprojects, SmInT-Grid and InDiS-Cell. SmInT-Grid focuses on the implementation and experimental investigation of the coupled electricity and hydrogen system in a laboratory environment. InDiS-Cell, meanwhile, addresses the development of digitally controllable fuel cells and electrolyzers with internal control capabilities. The aim is to improve the dynamic behavior of the coupling components and enable them to respond more rapidly to changes in the interconnected energy systems.
A key focus of the Chair of Computer Science in Mechanical Engineering is the development of a predictive digital twin of the energy system. The digital twin integrates information on the system architecture, operating states, and energy profiles into a data-driven model. Neural networks are used to learn characteristic energy profiles and predict future system states. Bayesian methods additionally enable the uncertainty associated with these predictions to be quantified. The developed models are validated using measurement data from the physical laboratory setup and continuously refined.
By connecting the physical energy system with its digital twin, different grid configurations, operating strategies, and application scenarios can first be investigated virtually. This facilitates the transfer of the findings to other stationary and mobile applications. CoupleIT! thus contributes to the intelligent integration of renewable energy sources and to the development of a digitized, hydrogen-based energy supply system. :::
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Project duration: January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2026
The CoupleIT! project is funded within the framework of the Center for Digitalization and Technology Research of the Bundeswehr (dtec.bw).
Project Management
Prof. Dr.–Ing. Detlef Schulz
Helmut Schmidt University / University of the German Armed Forces, Hamburg
Faculty of Electrical Engineering
Chair of Electrical Power Systems
Letzte Änderung: 7. October 2026