Barbecue for science: Employees at the new hydrogen technology centre are developing a hydrogen-powered grill

Hydrogen is not only a fuel for the future, but can also be an exciting alternative energy source - for example, for a grill. Staff at the new hydrogen technology centre, which will be officially opened in May 2026, are demonstrating this with their self-developed hydrogen-powered grill.

Using a barbecue as an example, researchers are investigating how hydrogen flames can be used to efficiently heat cast-iron heat transfer plates.

It is interesting to compare this with conventional propane flames: While propane distributes heat more evenly, hydrogen initially tends to create hot spots, which can lead to uneven temperatures and challenge the stability of the plates.

In initial tests using two burners and a heating plate, this led to material failure. Improvements to the burners and the use of special nozzles allowed the heat to be distributed more evenly, which significantly increased the plate’s performance. This makes it possible to use the waste heat generated to cook food perfectly.