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Commercialisation of a Novel and Efficient Air Compressor to Improve the Economic Viability of Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Project description

New air compressor for hydrogen fuel cells

Some of the world’s top car manufacturing countries intend to eliminate new internal combustion vehicles within 20 years. Efforts to phase out fossil fuels are in response to serious environmental concerns. Banning fossil fuel powered cars means accelerating the production of electric vehicles, which in turn requires better battery efficiency. The EU-funded FC-eCompressor project is proposing something different, in the development of a hydrogen alternative. Specifically, its new technology will provide more efficient, less energy-consuming, smaller and cost-affordable compressors able to operate continuously at high power for 4 000 hours without needing service.

Objective

Ongoing environmental and health concerns associated with the use of fossil fuels is driving demand for clean energy sources. For example, countries including China, the UK, Germany, India and France intend to ban new internal combustion vehicles within ~20 years. Battery powered electric vehicles have an important role to play, but they continue to be limited by range and charging time, so there is increasing interest in alternatives such as hydrogen fuel cells. It is predicted that by 2032, over 22 million fuel cells will be in operation.

Fuel cells consume stored hydrogen and oxygen (from air) to produce electricity. Heat and water are the only by-products, so the technology is non-polluting at the point of use. However, fuel cells are still relatively expensive and a key way to reduce their cost is to supply air at higher pressure, using a compressor. This increases power output, allowing them to be made smaller and cheaper, but compressors can consume up to 40% of the energy produced by the fuel cell, so their efficiency is critical.

Aeristech’s compressors operate much more efficiently, requiring 10-20% less power than competitive products. They are also up to 20% smaller and will operate continuously at high power for 4,000 hours without servicing. These unique advantages are creating enormous commercial interest.

Our solution, FC-eCompressor, has been developed to prototype stage (TRL6) and we now need to optimise the technology for production and gain approvals for commercial supply. To achieve this, we must produce sample units that are manufactured using high-volume production techniques, but this is expensive and time-consuming. By overcoming this barrier, we will open-up market opportunities that will create at least 110 new jobs and generate over €65 million in cumulative revenue by 2025.

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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SME - SME instrument

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

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Coordinator

AERISTECH LIMITED
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 817 530,00
Address
UNIT 4 HERMES COURT HERMES CLOSE
CV34 6NJ LEAMINGTON SPA WARWICKSHIRE
United Kingdom

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
West Midlands (England) Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire Warwickshire
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
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Total cost

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.

€ 1 167 900,00
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