Saxon Hydrogen Union: Paving the way towards a climate-neutral industry

Circular economy for hydrogen: On January 7, 2026, TUD Dresden University of Technology welcomed the Minister President of the Free State of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, as well as representatives from TUD Dresden University of Technology, Chemnitz (TUC), and Freiberg (TUBAF), including the University of Applied Sciences Dresden (HTWD) for a strategy meeting on the further development of the Saxon Hydrogen Union.

The focus was on the recently successful joint project “Hy²Cycle“, which was funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and in which the Chair of Hydrogen and Nuclear Energy (Prof. Antonio Hurtado) at TUD is significantly involved. The joint project is a flagship project of application and cycle-oriented hydrogen research, which is being implemented within the framework of the Saxon Hydrogen Union.

Michael Kretschmer, Minister President of the Free State of Saxony:

"Hydrogen is and will remain an energy source of the future and a key component of the climate-neutral transformation. The strong collaboration within the Saxon Hydrogen Union ensures technological progress, regional value creation, and competitiveness on a European and global scale. Despite currently high energy prices, scarce availability, and challenging European framework conditions, we are working consistently with the federal government to ensure that hydrogen strategies achieve their full potential."

Prof. Ursula Staudinger, Rector of TUD:

"In light of climate change, hydrogen will play a central role in future energy supply – and research into it requires technological excellence as well as interdisciplinary perspectives from the environment, economy, politics, and society. Alongside the Saxon Hydrogen Union and projects such as H2-RARE and the now approved Hy²Cycle, which is financed by ERDF funds, the technical universities in Dresden, Freiberg, and Chemnitz are pooling their complementary strengths with the HTWD. In this way, we are creating a research alliance with capabilities that uses resources efficiently and makes innovations visible."

Prof. Angela Rösen-Wolff, Vice-Rector Research and Technology Transfer at TUD:

"The Hy²Cycle project impressively demonstrates how powerful and future-oriented hydrogen research in Saxony is. As TUD, we contribute our interdisciplinary research strengths in engineering, natural sciences, and materials science to the Saxon Hydrogen Union in a targeted manner. Together with our partner universities, we provide the scientific foundations, technological solutions, and thus also a basis for innovative start-ups, which are of central importance for a climate-neutral industry and sustainable value creation in our Free State.”

Prof. Antonio Hurtado, Chair of Hydrogen and Nuclear Energy at TUD:

Hy²Cycle pursues a consistent approach to circular economy in hydrogen technology. We develop reversible and recyclable electrolyzer and fuel cell components that are not only efficient but also resource-efficient and industrially scalable. In doing so, we are addressing key challenges of the energy transition and making a concrete contribution to establishing Saxony as an internationally visible location for hydrogen technologies."

Resource-efficient hydrogen production – contributing to the energy transition

Hy²Cycle addresses key future issues relating to the energy transition: It focuses on developing recyclable electrolyzer and fuel cell components, particularly for alkaline high-pressure electrolysis. This process increases the efficiency of energy-intensive hydrogen production, thereby saving energy and costs. The goal is to enable energy-efficient, resource-saving, and reusable fuel cell systems along the entire value chain.

In collaboration with HTWD, TUD will focus on several work packages, in particular the development and production of a recyclable alkaline fuel cell/electrolyzer unit and the construction of a test facility.

Sustainable energy – tomorrow's driving force and value creation

In addition, representatives from the participating universities and HTWD discussed further contributions to the development of the Saxon Hydrogen Union and the establishment of a hydrogen-based circular economy in Saxony with the Minister President.

Simultaneously, Hy²Cycle was presented as an example of future joint activities. TU Dresden showcases its interdisciplinary strengths – from materials and laser research to energy technology and the safety and sustainability aspects of the hydrogen economy.

Background: Saxon Hydrogen Union

The Saxon Hydrogen Union was founded in 2022 by the three Saxon technical universities TUD, TUC, and TUBAF to pool expertise in research, teaching, and transfer, and at the same time position Saxony as an internationally visible hydrogen location. Since then, numerous joint projects have been acquired that combine basic and application-oriented research with industrial transfer. With the acquisition and implementation of “Hy²Cycle,” the partners, in close cooperation with HTWD, are now taking another important step toward a circular, sustainable hydrogen economy in Saxony that will bring together not only scientific stakeholders but also diverse regional partners from business and industry.

Contact:
TUD Dresden University of Technology
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