vgbe energy successfully commissions high-pressure hydrogen autoclave for material testing | more

vgbe energy has successfully commissioned a high-pressure hydrogen autoclave that enables the study of material behavior under realistic high-pressure hydrogen conditions. Such tests are essential for accurately assessing the operational performance of components and ensuring the safe use of hydrogen in industrial applications.

The new facility allows testing at pressures of up to 300 bar and temperatures of up to 230 °C. In addition to slow tensile tests, CT (Compact Tension) specimens can be used to determine fracture toughness and crack growth rates. With this, vgbe energy makes an important contribution to the safe and sustainable use of hydrogen in the energy industry.

“We are very pleased to be able to support the hydrogen economy with this test setup by carrying out practical investigations. The safe use of hydrogen requires in-depth knowledge of material behavior – and this is exactly where our tests come in,” said Dr. Christian Ullrich, Managing Director of vgbe energy service GmbH.

The project is being realized in close cooperation with the Technical University of Dortmund and the RIF Institute for Research and Transfer. The cooperation combines scientific expertise with practical application research and supports the development of hydrogen-compatible materials for industrial applications.

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Tillmann from TU Dortmund added: “Collaboration between science and industry is essential to advancing hydrogen technologies. Through our joint research, we provide crucial insights for the safe and efficient use of hydrogen in technical systems.”

vgbe energy has initiated the international conference MATHEA(MATerials in Hydrogen-related Energy Applications) to promote the exchange of experience on material-specific challenges along the entire hydrogen value chain. Experts from all over the world will meet in Hamburg on June 24 and 25, 2025. With this conference, vgbe is creating a central platform for science and industry to share new findings in the field of materials research and jointly develop solutions for a sustainable hydrogen future.