Descrizione del progetto
Il futuro dell’idrogeno verde è roseo
Una delle principali sfide globali per il 21° secolo è la fornitura sostenibile dell’energia sempre più richiesta dall’attività umana. L’idrogeno verde, o idrogeno prodotto da risorse energetiche rinnovabili, è un contendente importante in questa gara, rendendo gli elettrolizzatori un settore di investimento fondamentale per molti paesi ed economie. Gli elettrolizzatori scindono l’acqua in idrogeno e ossigeno, utilizzando l’elettricità per farlo. Delle tre principali tecnologie presenti sul mercato, l’elettrolisi dell’acqua a membrana a scambio anionico combina i vantaggi delle altre due, ma non è ancora competitiva sul piano commerciale, in termini di prestazioni. Il progetto NEWELY, finanziato dall’UE, prevede di ridefinire questo tipo di elettrolisi, migliorando significativamente l’efficienza con prestazioni due volte migliori rispetto allo stato dell’arte. La nuova pila di celle a combustibile consentirà una significativa riduzione del costo dell’elettrolisi dell’acqua, aumentando la competitività dell’idrogeno verde.
Obiettivo
Green hydrogen is one of the most promising solutions for the decarbonisation of society. Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) is already a mature technology but its large footprint makes it inadequate for producing the energy vector at GW scale. Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) on the other hand is compact but its dependence on iridium and other expensive materials poses a serious threat for up-scaling. Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) combines the benefits of both technologies. However, its key performance indicators (KPI) do not reach commercial requirements and are lacking competitiveness. NEWELY project aims to redefine AEMWE, surpassing the current state of AWE and bringing it one step closer to PEMWE in terms of efficiency but at lower cost. The three main technical challenges of AEMWE: membrane, electrodes and stack are addressed by 3 small-medium-enterprises (SME) with their successful markets related to each of these topics. They are supported by a group of 7 renowned R&D centres with high expertise in polymer chemistry and low temperature electrolysis. The SMEs and one of the largest hydrogen companies in the world will oversee that the new developments have a clear commercial perspective, placing Europe at the lead of AEMWE technology in three years. In this period , the NEWELY consortium will develop a prototypic 5-cell stack with elevated hydrogen output pressure. It will contain highly conductive and stable anionic membranes as well as efficient and durable low-cost electrodes. It will reach twice the performance of the state of the art of AEMWE operating with pure water feedstock only. The targeted performance of the NEWELY prototype will be validated in a 2,000 hours endurance test. The new AEMWE stack will lead to a significant cost reduction of water electrolysis having a relevant impact in the cost of green hydrogen.
Campo scientifico
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
- H2020-EU.3.3. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy Main Programme
- H2020-EU.3.3.8.2. - Increase the energy efficiency of production of hydrogen mainly from water electrolysis and renewable sources while reducing operating and capital costs, so that the combined system of the hydrogen production and the conversion using the fuel cell system can compete with the alternatives for electricity production available on the market
Meccanismo di finanziamento
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinatore
51147 Koln
Germania