CASE STUDY
Turning Waste into Warmth: How IMI and Fraunhofer IEG are accelerating the energy transition
Written By IMI Publications
December 5, 2025
Hydrogen is widely recognised as a fuel of the future - offering a pathway away from fossil fuels and toward a decarbonised energy landscape.
Among its forms, green hydrogen, produced using renewable electricity from wind or solar, is the ultimate goal. Yet adoption has been slow, largely due to high initial costs and limited funding. At IMI, we’re helping to change that. Through our advanced PEM electrolysers, we enable the scalable production of green hydrogen. Our latest collaboration shows how breakthrough engineering can accelerate the energy transition.
IMI VIVO PEM electrolyser in operation at the IntegrH2ate site, enabling green hydrogen production with advanced heat recovery and local energy integration.
Innovating beyond hydrogen production
The IntegrH2ate project, led by Fraunhofer IEG in Zittau, Germany, explores how PEM electrolysis can be both sustainable and economically viable. Today, around one-third of the electrical energy used in hydrogen electrolysis is lost as waste heat, while the oxygen produced is often left unused. IntegrH2ate investigates how these by-products - heat and oxygen - can be recovered and repurposed to support local energy needs. For example, waste heat at 50–60°C can be upgraded using heat pumps to approximately 90°C, making it suitable for district heating. Coupled with dynamic hydrogen production and fluctuating renewable energy supply, this integration poses unique engineering challenges - challenges IMI is helping to solve.
How IMI is making a difference
Our collaboration with Fraunhofer IEG marks the first application of the IMI VIVO PEM electrolyser, which delivers energy locally while generating green hydrogen. Key highlights include:
• Heat recovery and district heating integration: Waste heat captured during electrolysis is upgraded and fed into local heating networks, maximising energy utilisation.
• High-purity hydrogen production: Hydrogen quality reaches a 5.0 grade, making it suitable for industrial and mobility applications.
• Advanced data analytics: Every cell in the 120 kW PAM electrolyser stack is monitored to optimise performance and longevity.
Inside the IMI VIVO PEM electrolyser: advanced engineering components designed for high-efficiency green hydrogen production.
Economic and environmental benefits
By monetising by-products such as oxygen and waste heat, we can reduce hydrogen production costs while promoting circular energy systems. This integrated approach demonstrates how green hydrogen can become a cost-effective, scalable and sustainable solution.
Collaboration driving real-world impact
The success of this project stems from the strong collaboration between IMI and Fraunhofer IEG, combining research expertise with agile engineering. By adapting and integrating existing systems, we accelerated deployment and proved that advanced electrolyser solutions can thrive in real-world environments.
Learn more about our IMI VIVO PEM Electrolyser technology.
