Project description
Making PEMWEs the top choice for hydrogen production
Water electrolysis is one of the greenest technologies for producing hydrogen. Based on proton conduction of polymeric electrolyte membrane (PEM) technology, the PEM water electrolyser (PEMWE) offers an interesting solution for renewable energy storage. For instance, hydrogen produced offers large storage and can be efficiently reconverted to electricity via fuel cells. The two major drawbacks are high costs and low long-term durability of cell components. To solve this, the EU-funded HYDROGEN project will develop membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) where membranes are reinforced with extensive networks of active polymer fibres prepared by electrospinning. The project’s aim is for PEMWE to become a competitive solution for hydrogen production.
Objective
The project SPINAM (ERC Starting Grant 2012 - FP7 Ideas Programme) introduced a new method of elaboration and assembly based on electrospinning to produce novel energy materials with improved properties. The project focused on the development of core materials (membrane-electrode assemblies, MEAs) of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and water electrolysers (PEMWEs). Water electrolysis is one promising opportunity to address the challenge of renewable energy storage, since the hydrogen produced offers large storage capacities and can be efficiently reconverted to electricity via fuel cells. Despite its advantages, PEMWE is currently not yet widespread because of the high cost and the low durability of the cell components over time. The membrane is known to be the weakest component for long term performance, with low mechanical strength, high permeation and high creep. Reduction in the thickness of the membrane, while keeping low gas permeability and high mechanical resistance, would represent a real breakthrough, allowing for lower operating cell voltage. The HYDROGEN project (HighlY performing proton exchange membrane water electrolysers with reinforceD membRanes fOr efficient hydrogen GENeration) will tackle these issues with the preparation of novel MEAs based on membranes reinforced with extensive networks of active polymer fibres prepared by electrospinning. This concept was developed under SPINAM, where the results of the work were brought to TRL 3/4, with four-fold improvement in chemical and mechanical stability during electrochemical accelerated aging tests over state-of-the art reinforced membranes. HYDROGEN project technology provides the required disruptive solution for PEMWE to become a competitive option for H2 production up to its extensive adoption and commercialisation.
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. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences electrochemistry electrolysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels fuel cells
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy hydrogen energy
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2019-PoC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
34090 Montpellier
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.