Project description
Innovative, sustainable and cost-efficient electrolysers
Electrolysis technologies are pivotal in the transition to renewable energy solutions, with proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers emerging as some of the most used, experiencing growth in both usage and efficiency. However, PEM’s reliance on perfluorinated and critical raw materials has raised environmental concerns and fears of higher prices. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the VITAL project aims to address this challenge by developing a cost-effective, fluorine-free membrane solution using non-critical raw materials. The project will demonstrate this electrolyser system for hydrogen (H2) generation, emphasising its high performance and scalability. The membrane will utilise a recyclable olefin polymer membrane within in-situ-grown catalysts, thereby avoiding the use of platinum group metals.
Objective
Electrolysis technologies are pivotal in accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Among them, proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers, currently stand at an installed capacity of 0.92 GW and continue to grow, in view of their desirable performance traits such as high operating currents and fast response.
However, their reliance on perfluorinated materials such as Poly(Trifluoroethenesulfonyl Fluoride) (C2F4O2S)n for core parts (membrane and catalyst binder), and critical raw materials (iridium and platinum for catalysts), raises environmental concerns due to the recycling challenges of forever chemicals –the EU weighs a complete ban for forever chemicals such as Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), and cost. The reliance on noble metal catalysts, especially iridium, does not contribute to high capital costs, but poses scalability concerns due to the extremely limited availability of iridium. Overall, these hinder the sustainability prospects of PEM technologies at scale, and their widespread commercialization. These underscore the pressing need for innovative strategies to realize sustainable and efficient electrolyzers.
VITAL (Cost-effectiVe materIals for susTainAble eLectrolyzers) addresses these challenges through the development of novel, fluorine-free membranes, integrated with cost-effective, non-critical raw materials. VITAL aims to demonstrate electrolyzer systems for H2 generation which combine sustainable scalability and performance. VITAL innovation relies on the development of fluorine-free membrane electrode assemblies, implemented through a recyclable olefin polymer membrane paired with in situ grown catalysts; free of platinum group metals (PGMs), and designed to achieve competitive performance for H2 electrosynthesis. This project addresses the need for scalable and sustainable electrolysis, vital in the shift towards renewable energy sources, and reducing fossil fuel dependency.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesrecycling
- natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectrolysis
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metals
- engineering and technologychemical engineeringseparation technologies
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinator
08860 Castelldefels
Spain