Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ENABLER (Tech and business validation towards market readiness of high-performance PFSA-free intermetallic Pt-alloy membrane electrode assemblies for PEMFCs: Enabling next-gen hydrogen-based transport)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2023-06-01 do 2024-05-31
Hydrogen is one of the most promising renewable energy carriers to replace fossil fuels in the energy and transport sectors. As postulated in the EU Hydrogen Strategy presented in the EU Green Deal, hydrogen as the energy carrier and proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) as the energy-conversion technology provide solutions for decarbonisation of transport and energy sectors where other technologies can’t address the need. However, platinum demand increase represents a major challenge for green hydrogen development and PEMFC technology uptake, and mass commercialization of PEMFC technology will not be possible without bringing the platinum amount per vehicle down to the levels comparable with the internal combustion engine vehicles. In addition to the scarcity of platinum, fluoropolymers hamper mass commercialization of the PEMFC technology as both the synthesis and degradation chemistry of fluoropolymers located in the ionomer and membrane components of current PEMFCs carry huge toxic, bio-accumulating environmental burden.
ReCatalyst has developed its own technology to produce novel electrocatalysts based on platinum alloys, which enable higher performance and durability of catalysts. ionysis uses ReCatalyst’s catalysts for its membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), which are based on new, fluorine-free materials. Even before ionysis and ReCatalyst were founded, the founding teams worked closely together scientifically. Since 2020, they have laid the groundworks for EIC Transition through joint publications and mutual research visits at their respective research institutions - the University of Freiburg and Hahn-Schickard for ionysis, and the Slovenian National Institute of Chemistry for ReCatalyst.
The goal of the EIC Transition ENABLER project is to develop and validate fluorine-free MEAs that exceed current state-of-the-art performance and durability targets. To evaluate the MEAs in real-world applications, the established fuel cell stack developer EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies GmbH joined the consortium as an associated project partner. To shorten the time to market for innovations, the project also includes activities to prepare for their commercialization.
ENABLER aims at demonstrating a next-generation fuel cell short stack with reduced platinum content and free of perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA) compounds without compromising performance. The technology development is complemented by a set of business development activities to ensure market readiness for the technologies at the earliest possible time. The project will lay the foundation for more widespread exploitation of hydrogen power by enabling more efficient use of platinum as a critical raw material and exploiting the potential of innovative hydrocarbon materials.
Project goals are:
- Advance next-generation catalyst technology and PFSA-free ionomers and membranes that will improve commercial viability of fuel cells to decarbonize heavy-duty transport
- Integrate catalyst and hydrocarbon material components using novel MEA production processes to fabricate next-gen PFSA-free fuel cells with reduced platinum content
- Demonstrate the technology in a fuel cell short stack intended for the heavy-duty vehicle application and study the adaptation to other transportation applications
ReCatalyst has developed its own technology to produce novel electrocatalysts based on platinum alloys, which enable higher performance and durability of catalysts. ionysis uses ReCatalyst’s catalysts for its membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), which are based on new, fluorine-free materials. Even before ionysis and ReCatalyst were founded, the founding teams worked closely together scientifically. Since 2020, they have laid the groundworks for EIC Transition through joint publications and mutual research visits at their respective research institutions - the University of Freiburg and Hahn-Schickard for ionysis, and the Slovenian National Institute of Chemistry for ReCatalyst.
The goal of the EIC Transition ENABLER project is to develop and validate fluorine-free MEAs that exceed current state-of-the-art performance and durability targets. To evaluate the MEAs in real-world applications, the established fuel cell stack developer EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies GmbH joined the consortium as an associated project partner. To shorten the time to market for innovations, the project also includes activities to prepare for their commercialization.
ENABLER aims at demonstrating a next-generation fuel cell short stack with reduced platinum content and free of perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA) compounds without compromising performance. The technology development is complemented by a set of business development activities to ensure market readiness for the technologies at the earliest possible time. The project will lay the foundation for more widespread exploitation of hydrogen power by enabling more efficient use of platinum as a critical raw material and exploiting the potential of innovative hydrocarbon materials.
Project goals are:
- Advance next-generation catalyst technology and PFSA-free ionomers and membranes that will improve commercial viability of fuel cells to decarbonize heavy-duty transport
- Integrate catalyst and hydrocarbon material components using novel MEA production processes to fabricate next-gen PFSA-free fuel cells with reduced platinum content
- Demonstrate the technology in a fuel cell short stack intended for the heavy-duty vehicle application and study the adaptation to other transportation applications
In the first project year technology developments in the corresponding work packages began with the focus at ReCatalyst being on the metal loading on the carbon support, the ratio between the metals, the catalyst post-treatment as well as choice of the carbon support, and evaluating ReCatalyst catalysts with hydrocarbon and perfluorinated ionomers (PFSA). During the initial six months, ionysis conducted market research to assessed the availability of various ionomers, with a focus on hydrocarbon materials. A significant benchmark was reached in month 12 with the submission of a DEMO, showcasing a platform, ready for full-size cell integration at ionysis. ReCatalyst has also established a credible QC process for batch validation. EKPO has not integrated and validated the components at industrial level yet as activities under this work package are scheduled for the upcoming reporting period. ReCatalyst and ionysis are also finalizing the techno-economic analysis.
Both start-up companies have successfully closed their Seed financing rounds and have already initiated Series A fundraising with the plans to close within Q4 2024 / Q1 2025. They have also applied for other grants in a joint consortium call to further strengthen their R&D.
Project partners are highly active on LinkedIn as well as their websites – informing the public about their progress. ionysis and ReCatalyst are also attending fairs, conferences, pitching competitions and other events as well as reaching out to potential customers as well as Series A investors. Several targeted publications have also already been published in peer reviewed journals or as a pre-print.
Both start-up companies have successfully closed their Seed financing rounds and have already initiated Series A fundraising with the plans to close within Q4 2024 / Q1 2025. They have also applied for other grants in a joint consortium call to further strengthen their R&D.
Project partners are highly active on LinkedIn as well as their websites – informing the public about their progress. ionysis and ReCatalyst are also attending fairs, conferences, pitching competitions and other events as well as reaching out to potential customers as well as Series A investors. Several targeted publications have also already been published in peer reviewed journals or as a pre-print.
While both ionysis and ReCatalyst are commercially progressing their joint relationships, both companies are also establishing early relationships with suppliers as well as customers within the value chain. In terms of commercial activities, both companies are progressing from the ‘Minimum Viable Product’ to a portfolio of products as well as towards the achievement of the product market fit with their respective clients.
While ReCatalyst is developing its advanced next-gen catalyst designs in line with the SRIA goals of Clean Hydrogen Partnership and optimizing the use of precious metals such as platinum, ionysis is on the pathway to fully eliminate PFAS out of the PEM fuel cell technology. Thus, the companies are improving the sustainability, scalability as well as further improving the environmental friendliness of the technology with the impact spanning across the entire heavier transportation sector. Both companies are also expanding beyond the sole focus of PEM fuel cell technology towards PEM or AEM water electrolysis etc.
While ReCatalyst is developing its advanced next-gen catalyst designs in line with the SRIA goals of Clean Hydrogen Partnership and optimizing the use of precious metals such as platinum, ionysis is on the pathway to fully eliminate PFAS out of the PEM fuel cell technology. Thus, the companies are improving the sustainability, scalability as well as further improving the environmental friendliness of the technology with the impact spanning across the entire heavier transportation sector. Both companies are also expanding beyond the sole focus of PEM fuel cell technology towards PEM or AEM water electrolysis etc.