Research project »PLATON«

Research Project "PLATON" Publishes Results on Digital Platforms for the Hydrogen Lead Market

Press release | Leipzig /

2016 to 2020 proved to be the warmest years in recorded history. By 2020, the global temperature was already 1.25 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Hydrogen generated by renewable energies (green hydrogen) can replace fossil fuels and reduce CO2 emissions. In order to succeed in limiting global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius in accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement, according to the formula H2 x EE x P1011 ≤ 1.5° platform or data economy approaches are necessary in addition to hydrogen from renewable energies. With the help of digital platforms, green hydrogen can be produced and used efficiently.

Green hydrogen has gained the attention of politicians and companies. The research project "PLATON" (Platform Economy in the Hydrogen Economy), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, is the first project that not only examines the physical value creation around green hydrogen, but also looks at digital value creation. Prof. Heiko Gebauer, head of the project at Fraunhofer IMW, explains, "If we manage to establish green hydrogen as a lead market, we will be able to achieve our climate targets. In doing so, we must not make the mistake of only looking at the physical value creation, but must also think about the digital world around green hydrogen and shape it right from the start."

The project developed a hybrid value creation model that takes into account the horizontal, vertical and digital dimensions of value creation. In addition, the current status of data- and platform-based value creation in the energy sector was described using numerous examples of already existing platform approaches. It becomes clear that digital value creation is still in its early stages. Based on this, future scenarios were used to describe how existing platforms in the energy sector will continue to develop and how new platforms will emerge in the context of green hydrogen. For corresponding platform approaches to be successful, acceptance by key players and end users is essential. Therefore, a survey was conducted to investigate their receptiveness. Finally, further research questions that need to be answered on the way to a hydrogen-based economy were developed.

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft supports politics and industry with applied research in order to advance the dawning hydrogen era in companies and society. The "PLATON" project was carried out under the leadership of Fraunhofer IMW in cooperation with Fraunhofer IIS and Fraunhofer IAO

For more information and the final report of the research project, see: Project page PLATON

The "PLATON" project is coordinated by Prof. Dr. Heiko Gebauer supported by Alexander Arzt, Dr. Sebastian Haugk, Fraunhofer IMW

Dr. Tassilo Schuster, Lydia Bühler, Prof. Dr. Alexander Pflaum,
Fraunhofer Center for Applied Research on Supply Chain Services SCS, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS

Dr. Anna-Lena Klingler, Dr. Nektaria Tagalidou, Nora Fronemann,
Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO

Contact:
Fraunhofer IMW
Neumarkt 9-19, 04109 Leipzig

Head of project:
Prof. Dr. Heiko Gebauer
Head of Project Data Mining and Value Creation
Telefon +49-341-231039-163

heiko.gebauer@imw.fraunhofer.de | www.imw.fraunhofer.de

Communication:
Dirk Böttner-Langolf |
Telefon +49 341 231039-250 | dirk.boettner-langolf@imw.fraunhofer.de

Fraunhofer Center for International Management and Knowledge Economy IMW
Fraunhofer IMW looks back on more than fourteen years of applied socio-economic research and experience from its Leipzig location. Around 230 employees from seventeen countries support customers and partners from business, industry, politics, research and society in using globalization, digitization and structural change as a driver for innovation.The interdisciplinary research team from its various Leipzig locations and since 2020 the Center for Economics of Materials in Halle (Saale) accompanies companies, organizations, institutions, countries, municipalities and regions with international projects, network activities and scientifically based analyses for strategic decision-making processes.Originally founded as the Fraunhofer Center for Central and Eastern Europe MOEZ in 2006, the content and strategic realignment of the institute, which is certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 DNV-GL, has been reflected in the new name of Fraunhofer Center for International Management and Knowledge Economy IMW. The institute specialises in digital value creation, innovation research, regional development, knowledge and technology transfer and corporate development in international competition.
www.imw.fraunhofer.de

Expert Web Session on the EnDaSpace Subproject

A web expert session on the EnDaSpace sub-project will be held on May 27, 2021 from 15:00 to 16:30. During the event, the project participants can be asked questions about the project. One component of the session will be a contribution by Prof. Dr. Heiko Gebauer, head of the digital project unit Data Mining and Value Creation and head of the research project "PLATON" at Fraunhofer IMW.

Modern data economics in the energy industry in the context of hydrogen

The EnDaSpace PLATON project is dedicated to the development of a platform-based ecosystem in the application context of the hydrogen economy in two subprojects.

In the technological subproject EnDaSpace led by Fraunhofer IEE, a FIWARE platform was integrated into the data room. This allows for the visualization of operating data and schedules of wind turbines and hydrogen electrolysers that can be used for further applications.

A web expert session on the EnDaSpace sub-project will be held on May 27, 2021 from 15:00 to 16:30. During the event, the project participants can be asked questions about the project. One component of the session will be a contribution by Prof. Dr. Heiko Gebauer, head of the digital project unit Data Mining and Value Creation and head of the research project "PLATON" at Fraunhofer IMW.

Registration is required for participation