X-SEED aims at developing an innovative alkaline membrane-less electrolyzer that works at supercritical water conditions (>374°C; >220 bar) generating high-quality H2 at pressures over 200 bar. This technology maximizes energetic efficiency, improves circularity, and enhances lifetime, resulting in a more competitive green H2 production. X-SEED validates results at laboratory scale (TRL4) for a single cell and a 5-cell stack. Novel catalysts and electrodes are designed, synthesized, and characterized to ensure high efficiencies. Multiscale modeling and cell design ensure laminar fluid flows, allowing H2 and O2 separation without a membrane. Supercritical conditions and membrane-less configuration reduce the electrochemical work required to generate H2 (as interface resistances across cell components are decreased) and increase system lifetime. This results in an improved voltage and energy efficiency (42 kWh/kg H2), current density (> 3 A/cm2), H2 production rate and robustness (degradation rate < 1%/1000h). X-SEED also integrates circularity and sustainability assessments in decision-making, limiting the use of critical raw materials (below 0.3 mg/W) and using wastewaters both for catalyst production and as a possible electrolyte for the supercritical electrolyser. X-SEED consortium possess extensive technical knowledge and experience in key enabling technologies and areas. These will be utilized to realize multiphysics models of cell and stack (DTU, SNAM, IDN, PMat), manufacture and select the best catalyst and electrodes (LEITAT, PMAT, IDN), and design the cell, the stack, and the test bench to validate the supercritical electrolyzer at a laboratory scale (IDN, PMat, SNAM). In conclusion, X-SEED project's relevance and added value extend beyond the technological dimension: it will accelerate the H2 ecosystem, supporting Europe in meeting climate targets and maintaining its leadership position as a technological developer, producer, and exporter of green energy

The REDHy project tackles the limitations of contemporary electrolyser technologies by fundamentally reimagining water electrolysis, allowing it to surpass the drawbacks of state-of-the-art (SoA) electrolysers and become a pivotal technology in the hydrogen economy. The REDHy approach is highly adaptable, enduring, environmentally friendly, intrinsically secure, and cost-efficient, enabling the production of economically viable green hydrogen at considerably increased current densities compared to SoA electrolysers. The REDHy method is based on the findings of numerous EU-funded initiatives and patented by the DLR (TRL2). It is uniting academic and industrial entities across a broad spectrum of expertise. Unlike SoA electrolysers, REDHy is entirely free of critical raw materials and doesn't require fluorinated membranes or ionomers, while maintaining the potential to fulfil a substantial portion of the 2024 KPIs. In accordance with Europe's circular-economy action plan, a 5-cell stack with an active surface area exceeding 100 cm2 and a nominal power of 1.5 kW will be developed, capable of managing a vast dynamic range of operational capacities with economically viable and stable stack components. These endeavours will guarantee lasting and efficient performance at elevated current densities (1.5 A cm-2 at Ecell 1.8 V/cell) at low temperatures (60 °C) and suitable hydrogen output pressures (15 bar). The project's ultimate objective is to create a prototype, validate it in a laboratory setting for 1200 hours at a maximum degradation of 0.1%/1000 hours and achieve TRL4. This final phase will emphasize the potential of the REDHy approach and its crucial role in the upcoming hydrogen economy, secure subsequent investments, and showcase the necessity for ground-breaking, innovative thinking to reach climate objectives in a timely fashion.

Djewels demonstrate the operational readiness of 20 MW electrolyser for the production of green fuels (green methanol) in real-life industrial and commercial conditions. It will bring the technology from TRL 7 to TRL 8 and lay the foundation for the next scale-up step, towards 100 MW on the same site. Djewels will enable the development of next generation of pressurised alkaline electrolyser, by developing embarking more cost efficient, better performing, high current density electrodes, preparing the serial manufacturing of the stack and scale-up of the balance of plant components . Economies of scale combines with the flexible and optimized operation of the electrolyser, applying advanced electricity procurement and arbitrage strategies will ensure a low cost of hydrogen for the end-user during the 3 years of operation. This project will demonstrate the conditions for a profitable business cases for green hydrogen production as an input for green (or low-carbon) methanol production towards large-scale deployment in Europe before 2030. Djewels will be located in Delfzijl industrial park, where AkzoNobel already produces hydrogen through a chlor-alkali process and where the (bio)methanol producer, BioMCN, is also located. Delfzijl industrial park has with a direct connection to the electricity transmission grid, and low distribution network charges within. Other hydrogen industry clients in Delfzijl create further conditions for scaling up green hydrogen production. Beyond Delfzijl, the park is connected via a dense gas networks to other large-scale chemical and (petro)chemical hydrogen clients in the Netherlands and Germany. These could allow Djewels to be a stepping stone towards the creation of a new hydrogen valley, in line with the ambitions of the FCH2-JU and the regional roadmap, within the industrial cluster of Delfzijl, the Northern Netherland and beyond.

ELCOREL is a consortium combining 5 academic and 2 industrial beneficiaries aimed at training young researchers in the field of the conversion of water and carbon dioxide to fuels and chemicals with the aid of electrocatalysts, of prime importance to the efficient large-scale storage of the excess renewable electricity. The consortium will (i) develop rational catalyst design principles for the electrochemical oxidation of water and the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide based on the principles of quantum chemistry and large-scale quantum-chemical calculations, (ii) prepare, synthesize, characterize and test model single-crystalline and nanoparticulate catalysts, and (iii) implement high surface area catalysts in large-scale electrolysers at industrial laboratories. The fellows to be employed in ELCOREL will be part of a unique network of academic and industrial world leaders in their respective expertises, and will receive a dedicated multidisciplinary and intersectoral training through mandatory extensive training and research periods at the non-academic partners. Furthermore, they will go through an extensive training programme balancing scientific, personal and entrepreneurial skills. ELCOREL will generate a new generation of electrochemical researchers ready to deal with the academic and industrial challenges of securing Europe’s future energy independence.

This proposal will develop enhanced electrolysis devices enabling CO2 to be converted into high value chemicals. Specifically this project will improve selectivity, efficiency and durability of electrochemical CO2 conversion into either carbon monoxide, ethanol or ethylene. The immediate focus will be on the highly economically attractive chemicals industry, with the long term goal of using this as a stepping stone towards the fuels industry. New catalysts, gas diffusion layers, and membranes will all be developed to improve performance in commercially scalable type devices. Single site catalyst will be used to create high selectivity towards carbon monoxide production, whereas a dual catalyst approach will be used to produce ethanol. Variations in morphology and surface structuring will be the key to eliminating side reaction in ethylene production The greatest novelty of this project will be to use modifications in the reaction environment to effect reaction selectivity. The hydrophobicity and pore size will be varied in the gas diffusion layer and anion exchange membranes and ionomers will be developed to improve performance. The entire device will be comprehensively modeled from the quantum regime all the way to the complete device to relate macroscopic changes with catalytic improvements. Developments in both improved catalysts as well as optimization of reaction environment will allow for high CO2 conversion selectivity, (CO 90%, ethanol 80%, ethylene 90%) at high energy efficiencies (> 40%) and at high rates (> 200 mA/cm2). A life cycle analysis will focus on electrical power and CO2 inputs as well as the specific products to discover the most effective market opportunities for this technology moving forward. In addition social acceptance issues will be investigated to ensure this technology is developed in a manner that optimizes this aspect as well.