RWTH Aachen University has launched a new research initiative to develop a digitalised hydrogen infrastructure tailored to the mining industry. The project, named DigHy, is being led by the university’s Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM).
The three-year project aims to design a scalable and sustainable hydrogen energy system capable of supplying heavy-duty mining vehicles with zero-emission power. The initiative is funded with approximately €1.1 million by the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space.
PEM has previously worked on projects related to electric mobility and fuel cell technology, including the development of fuel cell systems for trucks. The DigHy project expands this research focus by addressing energy supply systems for industrial sectors such as mining.
Under the proposed concept, hydrogen will be produced through electrolysis using renewable electricity generated from treated mine water. The project seeks to integrate the full hydrogen value chain—from production and storage to distribution and final use in fuel cell-powered mining vehicles—into a single coordinated system.
“Taking climate targets seriously means we have to address all energy-intensive areas and take advantage of the benefits of artificial intelligence,” said Achim Kampker.
Digital technologies will play a central role in the project. Researchers plan to employ tools such as digital twins to simulate and optimise the hydrogen infrastructure and operational processes.
The consortium will develop an adaptive system intended to decarbonise mining operations and validate it under real-world conditions. The solution will also be compared with alternative decarbonisation strategies, including battery-electric vehicles, overhead line electrification and in-pit crushing and conveying (IPCC) systems.
Other participants in the DigHy project include Fraunhofer IWU and N+P Informationssysteme. Associated partners include Nivelsteiner Sandwerke und Sandsteinbrüche and HYDAC International.