Hamann

Hamann Engineering Frankfurt am Main /
Since 1986 /
Process- & Mechanical Engineering /
Energy Concepts / Office / Sites



Energy Projects ... Since 2020, we have been working on the idea of ​Efficiently Bringing Energy from regions more near to the equator to Central Europe.
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As early as 2010, we tried to implement an environmental project to use periodically switched-off wind energy from a wind farm in Schleswig-Holstein (Germany) for Electrolysis
and either feed the hydrogen into a nearby natural gas pipeline or directly synthesize methane with CO2 from a refinery in Heide. Unfortunatly the Ministry of the Environment did not grant any funding at the time. (8 years later a similar project was founded and realized by others.)
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In 2009, among other things, we designed the P&IDs for a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) plant for the Jänschwalde coal-fired power plant. However, the storage of CO2 in rock layers was finally rejected by (German) politicians after discussions at this time.
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From 2001 onwards, we were in the process of designing a Gas-To-Liquid (GTL) plant for Syntroleum in Australia. This project was also not realized because the American broker Merrill Lynch assumed that the barrel price (oil) would not be able to exceed the 30 dollar hurdle for a very long time.

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Our latest energy concept, started 2020 ...

​​transporting solar energy as efficiently, as quickly and as flexibly as possible from the Northern Subtropical High-Pressure Belt (Horse Latitude) with its stable and relatively calm high pressure systems and, compared to Germany, near as twice the hours of sunshine, to Central Europe resulted in the use of transport ships stacked full of batteries.

Solar fields are being installed in southern Morocco (and possibly in the future in Western Sahara /DARS). Direct current cables (110kV) are being run to the Atlantic coast and batteries (stacks of 110kV) are being charged in ships offshore. The charged batteries are being shipped to the calm Mediterranean behind Gibraltar and then connected to Direct Current cables (110kV/400kV/(800kV), HVDC / HÜG) that run as far as Baden-Württemberg and thus help to balance out fluctuating current in southwest Germany and its neighbors Swiss and East France.

Loctions below are proposed and will be a balanced compromise of sunshine duration in the winter months, distance, wind and summer temperatures.

Picture Route of the Battery Ship and the layout of the high-voltage direct current (HVDC /HÜG) cable routing


Our plans for Europe included 16 GW direct current lines, undersea along the Spanish coast and later partly underground through the Rhone Valley. Ships with a net capacity of 16 GWh (net delivery), for example, can feed in high power whenever there is demand. We planned on 7 ships every day in 2040, which is 112 GWh for the afternoon, evening and night every day.
For projects under consideration but not yet implemented, such as Desertec or the European Supergrid, line losses of around 14% are assumed for a 5,000 km long HVDC line at 800kV. This corresponds to approximately 2.8% relative line losses per 1,000 km. (Volker Quaschning: Regenerative Energiesysteme. Technologie - Berechnung - Simulation. München 2011, S. 162)


At the beginning of 2021, we asked the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy /Germany for funding. But their commissioned institute, the Jülich Research Centre saw our project outline as a competing approach to the hydrogen future that was the preferred focus of that research group at the time. And in 2022 and 2023, the Federal Ministry of Research still dreamed that fusion reactors would be available from the mid-2030s.

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Batteries

The magic word for CATL's latest and new fast-charging batteries is 12C charging.
This achieves for an average single passenger car a peak charging power of more than 1.3 MW. Even at a charge level of 20 percent, the power is still 830 kW. These (-latest by CATL-) batteries are designed for European driving profiles. Therefore, the infrastructure must be able to provide the energy required for such charging speeds for multiple cars.

We calculated with 193.536 batteries similar size per ship (20GWh).

Our batteries were planned as expected quasi solid-state batteries, which are quite safe (quasi-solid electrolytes are kind of non-flammable) and less susceptible to the thermal runaway phenomenon, allow for quite high energy densities and are designed on the basis of sodium or potassium ions.

On April 21, 2025 CATL surprises everyone with its sodium breakthrough, the technology that we thought was possible from the beginning:

Picture of CATL Sodium battery 175Wh//kg

The batteries are designed for use in a temperature range of -40°C to +70°C:

Picture of the new CATL Sodium Battery

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An alternative and currently interesting option are 4th-generation LFC batteries:

Picture of an ultra-dense LFP

These are ultra-dense LFP batteries that boast high energy density yet are significantly cheaper than NMC batteries. Lithium iron phosphate is based on the non-critical metal iron. The batteries are heat-stable and long-lasting and do not require nickel or cobalt. The ultra-dense, more densely packed, new 4th-generation LFP packages combine larger LFP crystals/particles with very few crystal defects with small LFP particles that fill the gaps between the larger particles. These bimodular structures enable a density of 2.75 g/cm³ and thus an energy density of around 220 Wh/kg.

Structural model:

Picture of ultra-dense LFP

780,000 tons of this powder are expected to be produced in China by 2025. The batteries could also be constructed as "blades," which are tightly stacked like book pages. The cells are cooled from above and below and – as required – through the narrow gaps, meaning that air flows around each packed blade. The narrow design increases energy density. The nail test has already been successful, and the electrolyte contains fire-retardant additives. However, the fire resistance of future battery generations must always be kept in mind. The charging speed must be sufficient even in direct midday sun. The LFC cells can heat up to 60°C, which reduces their internal resistance and makes them more efficient. Lithium plating, aging, and thus the cooling requirements are reduced. The battery is designed to last 4,000 cycles before needing to be replaced at 80% charge.

long and parallel cells
Alternatively to Modules ... Long Cells
Zellen in Raumrichtung
Use of Long Cell Packs, each cell is 1.35cm thick
battery example of a BYD
Example of a 2.0 LFC battery manufactured by BYD, not shown are additional Ceramic Layers
Cooling layers
Not shown are Ceramics at the bottom and top for vertical insulation and for vertical support
CATL Shenxing Pro with Wave cells for better cooling and safety:

Picture of CATL Wave Cells

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In the beginning, our original project concept included the construction of a solar panel factory in Germany, a battery factory (JV with CATL), the entire engineering and logistics for the installation of the prefabricated HVDC technology as well as shipbuilding/shipyard support. In 2021, we also tried in parallel to contact Mercedes-Benz to become part of plannable quantities for battery production (possibly via Factorial). The solid-state cells of the Solstice battery are manufactured using the dry cathode process. This process eliminates both the complex wet coating with toxic solvents and the complex sintering of the electrodes, which leads to a significant reduction in costs. Another cost advantage of the Factorial battery is the reduced cooling requirement. Thanks to the stable solid sulfide electrolyte, which works reliably even at operating temperatures of over 90°C, a much more safe and compact cooling system can be used.

In any case, we would have been free to specify the optimal battery type late and then produce it in large quantities. Changing the battery type from ship to ship would also have been possible at any time.

We think with pain of the fire in Moss Landing /California and the destruction of a 300MW /~ 1,2GWh plant, which was built in 2020. They used flammable Li-Ion Batteries. The disaster also represents a setback for the method of clustering batteries in a building enclosure instead of in modular containers, a common architecture for grid batteries for this type of batteries. With sodium ion batteries and a KI-analysing failure isolating control, such a disaster can be ruled out.

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Further advantages of solar fields in the "Horse Latitude" area include the reduced use of photosynthetically active Central European agricultural lands, reduced noise pollution in the Baltic and North Sea waters, etc. Cooperation with the desert states could also bring about a new relationship, particularly between the Polisario Front and Moroccan interest groups, as well as a reappraisal of the colonial past through our globally far more pressing environmental problems. However, our initial goal, if we were to include Western Sahara, was to transmit the electricity only to the coast of Western Sahara. Flexibility of the project, project expansions and rapid availability were paramount. Providently, criminal attacks on single-wire cabling to Europe should be minimized, whether undersea off West Africa or overland through the Maghreb. We've also considered other delivery destinations, such as the Canary Islands or further south. The battery ships are also suitable for transporting energy from offshore wind farms.

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Calculation and Financing

The project's financial calculations are difficult. The power line through the Rhône Valley, in particular, requires political support, as France relies on its nuclear monopoly. Battery costs are falling as predicted. The construction and outfitting of the ships was to be entrusted to European shipyards, but cost estimates were difficult (design, approvals, permits etc). However, the KfW bank requires contracts that are ready for signature. But nothing happens quickly.

Germany now supports a Hydrogen pipeline net in Germany. Also a Hydrogen pipeline is planned from Algeria and Tunisia to Germany (EU).

The financial managers of the energy suppliers approached may have considered the financial risks too high. They were reluctant to provide support. Prior political support was lacking, as hydrogen had already been postulated and favored as an established energy transfer model in recent years. Strategic coexistence with imported energy sources seemed too expensive. Only university professors supported the project and contributed to its definitive technical feasibility through comments and discussions.

Too much time has passed now. We have tried to reduce CO2 emissions and provide an approach that efficiently brings energy from other weather regions to one of Europe's central industrial regions. We believe that a younger generation will find newer solutions to ensure the energy supply of the future of Germany and Europe.

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Interested in more details? ...

Below, from Satellite - currently one of the largest Solar parcs on the planet (3 deg. south of the Horse Latitude)

The Bhadla Solar Parc is a solar power plant located in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, India. It covers an area of 56 square kilometers and has a total installed capacity of 2,245 megawatts (MW), making it the largest solar park in the world as of 2023. The park was developed in four phases since 2015, with $775 million in funding from the Climate Investment Fund and $1.4 billion in funding from other sources.

Solarfeld seen from a Statellite

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The average sunshine hours in southern Morocco, 1.6 to twice as many as in Germany.

The average in Berlin is 4.8 hours a day (*365 = 1,752 hours each year).

Picture of the average sunshine in southern Marocco

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Battery development in terms of energy density over the last 30 years

Picture of the development of energy desities of batteries

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The battery-electric drive concept of our ship fleet can be made even more efficient by adding sails, so that more electrical energy is ultimately available for feeding into Europe, i.e. drive losses are reduced and the overall efficiency is improved.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), which is responsible for standards in shipping, supports new technologies and has announced climate-neutral shipping by 2050.

Picture of a Ship with advanced Sails

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The battery cell housings are of ceramic compond and vertically as well as horizontally connetcted by form fit.

Ship with Batterie Arrangement for 20GWh.

Other important components are offshore barges with automatically tracking and gripping connectors for a solid power connection with 48 connectors of 110kV and 850A each.

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Typical: "View" onto the battery staples in a Battery Ship

The picture shows the View onto the battery staples in a Battery Ship.

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Typical: The proposed arrangement of cells and the cooling loop

Picture shows the battery arrangement for equal cell cooling

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Typical: The proposed arrangement of cells for equal cooling. Cooling controls and details are not shown in the picture below.

Temperature & cooling monitoring as well as additional fans are in other detail eng. drawings. In case of interest please ask.


Revised and updated designs are engineered and available.
Picture shows the battery arrangement for equal cell cooling

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Typical: The proposed methode of emergency cooling by injecting cold Nitrogen into the anyway overall cooling loop with Nitrogen

Revised and updated designs are engineered and available.
Picture shows an emergency cooling methode by injecting cold Nitrogen

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Solar Area Comparison: The calculation below shows substantial differences between power generation with Hydrogen, Ammonia and using directly Battery Ships or Direct Cabling. The calculation does not include a probably also required water desalination.

Required Solar Area (or equivalent wind power):

Ratio: Liquified Hydrogen Transport and power reconversion in Central Europe with gas turbines versus Battery Ships: ~ 4,7 / 1

Ratio: Liquified Ammonia Transport and power reconversion in Central Europe with gas turbines versus Battery Ships: ~ 6,3 / 1

The calculation below is in German - for more and detailed information please contact.

Picture shows a calculation sheet and the differences between power generation via Batteries, Hydrogen and Ammonia


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A proposed commuter schedule of ...below... 21 Ships for delivering 112 GWh solar energy each night at a level of 16 GW for stabilizing the grid in south Germany, Swiss and probably the Mulhouse area as well.

Of course, the battery ships can also be used for other electricity storage and on other energy transport routes.

Picture shows a proposed timetable for the commuter traffic of proposed 21 ships

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High-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology

The director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology (FhG-IISB) and holder of the Chair of Power Electronics (LEE) at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg confirms the feasibility and implementability of the concept. No particular hurdles are to be expected in the area of ​​power grid technology. For the cable route in Europe, the direct current could also be raised to a higher level.

Picture shows a HVDC package of Hitachi

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A recently developed robot can reduce the time required to set up solar systems and the associated costs by up to 50 percent.

The robot primarily automates lifting work to precisely place solar panels. The robot uses artificial intelligence (AI), such as AI-supported computer vision, to independently set up the solar system as accurately as possible in real time. This robot, called Maximo, has already proven that this works when it built the Oak Ridge Solar Farm in the US state of Louisiana.

Picture shows Solarpanel installation Robot


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Large solar panels provide plenty of shade for the local soil, which can have a positive impact on the ecosystem.

The impact on local microclimates, i.e., the climatic conditions near the ground and thus the physical and chemical properties of the soil, which promote the diversity of plant and microbial communities, is positive.
The photovoltaic modules absorb direct sunlight, which leads to reduced soil moisture evaporation. Modules block long-wave radiation from the ground into the atmosphere, which affects the radiation balance of the Earth's atmosphere interface. At the same time, the necessary cleaning of the modules increases soil moisture in the area and thus also the air humidity below the solar panels.

Picture shows Solarpanel installation Robot


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Some Engineering References /History

Clariant, Sunliquid Project, Romania

Process and Technical Lead of the Technology Group in Frankfurt, early indentification of expected process failures and proposed solutions (but Clariant refused to listen).
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RZR Herten, Germany, Waste Power Plant

Process, study, plausibility and recommendation analysis for the intended introduction of methanol synthesis from green hydrogen and CO2 from waste incineration as a replacement for the fuel used in garbage trucks.

Picture shows a catyliser for the Methanol synthesis
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Yara Norway, Bamboo project, Revamp, Capacity Expansion

Engineering of a Process Air Conditioning Unit, 2,5 MW heat removal added to an existing air flow; concept, technical clarification, engineering, P&IDs, functional description ... also inquiries and POs for all pumps of the project.
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ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions (Uhde) Dortmund, CHS Fertilizer Plant (North Dakota)

Preparation of Technical Data Sheets for Blowers and Oil Systems.
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Coker Yield Improvement Project (BP)

Select Phase for Wet Gas Compressor and Decoking Jet Pump.
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Onshore Wind Farm Northern Germany

Wind to Liquids project, Initiator of a conceptual study (2011) and project design for the production of renewable synthetic fuels using overproduced current by electrolysis, Sabatier process and Fisher Tropsch synthesis, incl. accessories (connections to an existing biogas plant and a refinery, carbon capture recommendation, CO2 transport).
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OMV Petrom, Romania

Slug Catcher for a gas pipeline, design analysis (flow, piping impulses, fire cases etc.). Process recommendations for process water treatment plants.
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Chemical Plants (Maasvlakte) Lyondellbasell, Netherlands

Process related innovative compressor design concepts for efficiency & process upgrades with heat integration. Analysis of caustic waste water treatment concepts, heat balances. Guidelines for environmental upgrades.
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Lignin Project

Study on the use of lignin as a structural material to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and bind it in the long term.


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Vattenfall Europe, Jänschwalde - Carbon Capture Plant Project

Plant P&IDs (design), design of a Reclaimer package unit etc. (2010)
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Oil & Gas Companies in Libya and Algeria

Gas Turbine-Generator power plant (MAN Turbo) for Harouge Oil Operations in En Naga incl. PFD, gas turbine selection for the desert environment, gas processing (Soave-Redlich-Kwong), fuel gas compressor, plant arrangement. Corrosion analysis & material guidance for column repairs. Detail engineering of high pressure spheres including material analysis after cladding difficulties (Super Duplex), examinations, hydrostatic tests, FATs. Detail engineering (inquiry, bid comparison, drawing checks) of heat exchangers, testing. Leading the repair of a metering unit at site in Libya. Leading commissioning of a flare. Quotation for a GOSP revamp and upgrade with new Turbos and new Reciprocating Compressors (Dresser), explaining in detail the concepts to the client in Algeria. Claim management.
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OMV-Germany META Project Burghausen - revamp and new plant

Revamp of an Ethylene plant and engineering (mech.) of a new Olefin Conversion plant. Detail engineering /inquiry, bid comparison, technical clarification meetings, testing, documentation, delivery. Installation, commissioning and start up of pumps, compressors and steam turbines (Siemens). Analysis of seal and possible pump failures and early recommendations for changes. Responsible for the settings of the seal systems. Explanation of the functionality to the operators. Analysis of claim accusations.
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Ethylene plant - revamp BIPC /Iran (Bandar Imam)

New turbo compressors with steam turbines (MHI /cracked gas, ethylene, propylene compressors) with dry gas seals, including revision of existing P&IDs. New condensers, new expander-compressors with magnetic bearings (Cryostar), agitator, new boiler feed water pumps, new cooling water Inquiries, technical clarifications, bid comparison, detail engineering, e.g. design pattern for the human machine interface, performance testing, hydrostatic tests of the condensers, FATs of the control panels. Presenting the machines to the client at manufacturers, FATs.
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Ethylene plant Tiszai Vegyi /Hungary /Linde

Turbo compressors with condensing steam turbines (MAN-Turbo), Inquiries, technical clarifications, bid comparison, detail engineering.
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Project for BASF /China

Instrument air compressor, kneaders, thermo reactor Inquiries, technical clarifications, bid comparison, purchase.
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GTL - Syntroleum Sweetwater Project Fischer-Tropsch, Gas to Liquid /Australia

Turbo compressors with steam turbines (up to 60MW), Pumps, Generator, Screw compressor, Air cooler, cooling tower, fire fighting, bio treatment (all ready for purchase).
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Projects for National Oil Distribution Company, Qatar / Buthyl Lithium, Taiwan / Yangtse River Acetyls Company, Sichuan (BP) / Leuna 2000 Refinery (Lurgi, Metallgesellschaft), Germany ... an more

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Turbine testing
Test bench of a compressor
New Turbine after FAT
One of the more smaller items
Column revamp in a Refinery
Revamp of a column
Thumbs up
One of the missions was completed

Construction site experiences are always something special when they confirm your own designs, calculations and specifications without errors. Thanks to our precise documents, quality control and approval management, we have always had joy, success and recognition on construction sites.


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Current Office Location

(Remote Storage)

Dipl.-Ing. (TU) Horst Hamann, 60439 Frankfurt, Thomas-Mann-Str. 55
Phone: +49 173 3420887

Hamann studied Engineering and Biology.


The Kiosk in Google's map is not the office, the office is just close by.
(Frankfurt History: This Kiosk was built in the 1960s and is one of the so-called Frankfurt "Wasserhäuschen .... water houses" which are a traditional part of the Frankfurt cityscape and are still more than just kiosks for many locals today. These drinking halls were built in the second half of the 19th century. At that time, drinking unboiled tap water was a hygiene concern, but it was the first time that mineral water could be bottled while maintaining the gas pressure. The city-approved water houses were intended to help workers drink more water by selling these bottles and not - as was so often the case - beer and liquor. It was also known colloquially as "Bitzelwasser". Since the water houses were not tied to the official shop closing times, there were at times up to 800 drinking halls in the city. Today "our Wasserhäuschen" is run by an Indian mainly selling beer.)

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