Project description
Improving fuel cell quality, cost and durability by advanced testing
Global efforts are increasing towards sustainable energy sources and innovative fuel cells such as those using methanol. The EU-funded ASCEND project aims to address technical challenges associated with ensuring efficient quality evaluation of high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (HT PEMFC) stacks; a scalable electric power source fuelled by a methanol/water fuel that is converted in a steam reformer. Through the development of diagnostic tools, researchers and engineers aim to improve materials and processes used in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) production, with the ultimate goal to optimise fuel cell functionality and durability. The newly designed diagnostics station will be used to test novel materials, uncover previously hidden degradation mechanisms and advance the existing fuel cell technology.
Objective
The core priorities of Horizon 2020 - Work Programme 2018-2020 “Secure, clean and efficient energy” are renewable energy, smart energy systems, energy efficiency, and carbon capture utilization and storage. In-line with these priorities a scalable electric power source is produced by Serenergy A/S. The product can be used for applications both off- or on-grid, and is based on reformed methanol high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (HT PEMFC) system. Constant improvements and innovations of the product require strong R&D and quality control (QC) activities. This applied research project (ASCEND) will address challenges and issues encountered in the core components of the HT PEMFC stack, namely the processes and phenomena inside the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and its subcomponents.
ASCEND aims to develop diagnostic tools, to better understand and further improve the HT PEMFC stack, by introducing a newly designed test station. This station will be used to test prototype MEAs (and various subcomponents) with the goal of obtaining relevant data and feedback suggestions for improving materials and processes used in production and assembling of MEAs and stacks. The purpose of this test station will be twofold: to carry out QC and to support R&D activities related to stack development and fuel cell functionality and durability. For successful implementation of this new paradigm several research objectives have been set, which will be addressed by using a variety of advanced experimental techniques and methodologies. This new paradigm will allow studying current and novel materials and/or components well beyond the completion of this project and enable collaborations in other research projects and thus faster transition to new state-of-art materials or components. All of the above will contribute to the optimization and cost reduction of the product (HT PEMFC system) thus creating more efficient, environmentally friendly and affordable power source.
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.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electrical engineering electric energy
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy
- engineering and technology environmental engineering ecosystem-based management climatic change mitigation
- engineering and technology environmental engineering carbon capture engineering
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels fuel cells
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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.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
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.
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.
MSCA-IF-EF-SE - Society and Enterprise panel
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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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.
9000 Aalborg
Denmark
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.