A methodological framework for the eco-(re)design of mature and emerging products has been developed through the adaptation and application of life cycle thinking methodologies (Deliverables 2.1 2.2 and 2.3). Moreover, a base case of a PEMFC stack has been defined and applied within the context of the Eco-design Directive (Deliverable 2.4).
Full application of the eGHOST eco-design methodology has been carried out. A set of eco-designed product concepts was defined (Deliverable 3.2). In the case of the PEMFC stack, four new concepts were proposed:
- Realistic short-term concept: based only on short-term actions that will be made and implemented in the industry in the near future;
- Realistic medium and long-term concept: based on short-term actions and also includes some medium and long-term actions.
- Optimistic product concept is the concept that is already being implemented by some cutting-edge technology companies and/or developed on a laboratory scale.
- Disruptive product concept: includes the relevant actions mentioned above plus others that are still in development or in the initial research or even conceptual phase.
Due to the lower maturity of SOEC stacks, a prospective approach was applied and two product concepts were proposed:
- Enhanced realistic product concept, based on the medium-term actions that will be realized and implemented in the FCH industry in the near future (medium-term perspective).
- Optimistic product concept: includes all relevant above-mentioned medium-term actions with additional view on possible actions which are still under development or in the early research phase or even conceptual phase.
All these product concepts were assessed and prioritised according to their technical and sustainability performance improving that from reference products (Deliverable 4.2).
Finally, specific sustainable-by-design guidelines for PEMFC (Deliverable 5.1) and SOEC (Deliverable 5.2) stacks have been published. All the knowledge gained was applied for the edition of the eGHOST White Book (Deliverable 5.3) where all the lessons learnt have been brought together to issue a reference document for the sustainable-by-design methodology application to hydrogen technologies.
The research activity carried out so far has led to a significant number of research articles (
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.05.255(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2024.02.015
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.107614(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.143129(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)) and scientific contributions to conferences such as the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Piero Lunghi Conference (EFC 2021), the European Hydrogen Energy Conference (EHEC 2022 and 2024), the 23rd World Hydrogen Energy Conference (WHEC 2022), the 11th World Congress of Chemical Engineering (WCCE11), and the 11th International Conference on Life Cycle Management (LCM 2023)
