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Advanced High Pressure and Cost-Effective PEM Water Electrolysis Technology

Objective

Direct production of highly pressurised hydrogen from electrolytic water splitting can allow saving relevant amounts of energy compared to down-stream gas compression. The aim of this project is to develop a novel polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyser able to produce hydrogen at very high pressure (200 bar) thus reducing the post-compression energy consumption. Another goal is to develop a cost-effective technology allowing to achieve large-scale application of PEM electrolysers. A significant reduction of capital costs is achieved by critical raw materials minimisation, developing cheap coated bipolar plates and operating the electrolyser at a high production rate while assuring high efficiency (about 80% vs. HHV) and safe operation. ADVANCEPEM aims at developing a set of breakthrough solutions at materials, stack and system levels to increase hydrogen pressure to 200 bar and current density to 5 A cm-2 for the base load, while keeping the nominal energy consumption <50 kWh/kg H2. Reinforced Aquivion® polymer membranes with enhanced conductivity, high glass transition temperature and increased crystallinity, able to withstand high differential pressures, are developed for this application. The approach is to operate the innovative membrane at high temperature 90-120 °C under high pressure to allow increasing energy efficiency. To mitigate hydrogen permeation to the anode and related safety issues, efficient recombination catalysts are integrated both in the membrane and anode structure. The new technology is validated by demonstrating a high-pressure electrolyser of 50 kW nominal capacity with a production rate of about 24 kg H2/day in an industrial environment. The project will deliver a techno-economic analysis to assess reduction of the electrolyser CAPEX and OPEX. The consortium comprises an electrolyser manufacturer, membrane and catalyst supplier, an MEA developer and an end-user for demonstrating the system.

Coordinator

CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE
Net EU contribution
€ 430 875,00
Address
Piazzale Aldo Moro 7
00185 Roma
Italy

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Region
Centro (IT) Lazio Roma
Activity type
Research Organisations
Other funding
€ 0,00

Participants (6)

SOLVAY SPECIALTY POLYMERS ITALY SPA
Italy
Net EU contribution
€ 159 585,00
Address
Viale Lombardia 20
20021 Bollate Mi

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Region
Nord-Ovest Lombardia Milano
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
Third-party

Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.

Rhodia Laboratoire du Futur
France
Net EU contribution
€ 33 761,00
Address
Avenue Du Docteur Schweitzer 178
33608 Pessac

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Region
Nouvelle-Aquitaine Aquitaine Gironde
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,25
Third-party

Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.

RHODIA OPERATIONS
France
Net EU contribution
€ 175 210,00
Address
9 Rue Des Cuirassiers, Immeuble Silex 2 Solvay
69003 Lyon

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Region
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Rhône-Alpes Rhône
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
IRD FUEL CELLS A/S
Denmark
Net EU contribution
€ 341 915,00
Address
Emil Neckelmanns Vej 15a
5220 Fraugde

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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
Danmark Syddanmark Fyn
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
RWE POWER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Germany
Net EU contribution
€ 398 984,00
Address
Rwe Platz 2
45141 Essen

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Region
Nordrhein-Westfalen Düsseldorf Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,06
Third-party

Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.

RWE GENERATION SE
Germany
Net EU contribution
€ 67 000,00
Address
Rwe Platz 3
45141 Essen

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Region
Nordrhein-Westfalen Düsseldorf Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 23 736,25

Partners (2)

OORT ENERGY LTD
United Kingdom
Net EU contribution
€ 0,00
Address
Pengelly
PL15 8LW Petherwin Gate

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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
South West (England) Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
No data
HSSMI TRADING LIMITED
United Kingdom
Net EU contribution
€ 0,00
Address
The Bagel Factory Unit A-c 52-54 White Post Lane
E9 5EN London

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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
London Inner London — East Tower Hamlets
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
No data