CREATE · Project

Cheaper Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers by Replacing Expensive Platinum with Common Metals

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create-energy-h2020.eu

Today's fuel cells and hydrogen-making devices rely on platinum and other rare, expensive metals — think of it like building every car engine out of gold. The CREATE team figured out how to swap those pricey metals for cheap, widely available ones like iron and nickel compounds, while keeping the devices working well. They did this by redesigning the internal membranes so the chemistry works at a pH where common metals perform just fine. The goal is small-scale systems that store solar energy or produce hydrogen without the crazy price tag of platinum.

By the numbers

400+ hours

Membrane alkaline stability at 60°C achieved

> 3 S/m

Anion-exchange ionomer conductivity at 100% relative humidity

Consortium partners across the project

Countries represented in the consortium

Total project deliverables produced

The business problem

What needed solving

Fuel cells and electrolyzers today depend on platinum group metals — rare, expensive, and subject to supply chain disruptions from a handful of mining countries. This makes hydrogen technology too costly for widespread small-scale deployment. Companies building distributed energy storage or backup power systems are stuck between high material costs and the growing demand for green hydrogen solutions.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered two generations of anion-exchange membranes with verified stability (400+ hours at 60°C) and conductivity (above 3 S/m), plus complete sets of platinum-free catalysts for both oxygen and hydrogen reactions. These were assembled and tested in actual fuel cell and electrolyzer devices targeting photovoltaic storage, off-grid backup power, and hydrogen production.

Audience

Who needs this

Electrolyzer manufacturers looking to reduce platinum dependencyOff-grid and backup power system integratorsSolar-plus-storage solution providersFuel cell stack developers targeting distributed applicationsMembrane and catalyst material suppliers seeking next-generation products

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Hydrogen production equipment

mid-size

Target: Manufacturers of small-scale electrolyzers for green hydrogen

If you are an electrolyzer manufacturer struggling with platinum costs eating into your margins — this project developed catalysts made from Earth-abundant metals and new anion-exchange membranes with conductivity above 3 S/m and stability exceeding 400 hours at 60°C. These materials were tested in actual electrolyzer assemblies by a 12-partner consortium across 8 countries, giving you a validated pathway to cut your most expensive raw material.

Off-grid power systems

SME

Target: Companies building backup power and energy storage for remote sites

If you are an off-grid energy provider looking for affordable backup power solutions — this project built and tested membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells that eliminate platinum group metals entirely. The targeted application is distributed small-scale systems for photovoltaic electricity storage and off-grid back-up power, directly matching your product roadmap without the supply chain risk of critical raw materials.

Renewable energy integration

any

Target: Solar farm operators needing cost-effective energy storage

If you are a solar energy company that needs to store excess electricity as hydrogen — this project developed bipolar membrane technology that adapts pH at each electrode, enabling the use of cheap catalyst materials on both sides. With 5 demonstrated deliverables including two generations of membrane materials, these results offer a concrete route to hydrogen storage systems that don't depend on volatile platinum markets.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much could this reduce fuel cell or electrolyzer costs?

The project targets complete elimination of platinum group metals (PGM) from catalysts, which are the single most expensive component in conventional fuel cells and electrolyzers. Based on available project data, specific cost reduction percentages were not published, but removing PGM entirely would eliminate the most volatile and expensive material input.

Can this work at industrial production scale?

The project focused on material development and device-level testing, not industrial-scale manufacturing. Deliverables describe ex situ verification and testing in single fuel cells and electrolyzers. Scaling to production volumes would require further engineering and manufacturing process development.

What is the IP situation — can I license this technology?

The project was coordinated by CNRS (France) with 12 partners across 8 countries under a Horizon 2020 RIA grant. IP generated would be governed by the consortium agreement. Companies interested in licensing should contact the coordinator or specific partners who developed the catalysts and membranes.

How mature is this technology — is it ready for products?

The consortium produced two generations of anion-exchange membranes meeting stability targets of over 400 hours at 60°C and conductivity above 3 S/m. However, testing was at the laboratory device level. This places the technology at the late prototype stage, needing further development before commercial products.

What specific applications were targeted?

The project explicitly targeted three applications: photovoltaic electricity storage, off-grid back-up power, and hydrogen production. All three are in the distributed small-scale systems market, not large industrial installations.

Were any companies involved in testing?

Yes, the consortium included 3 industrial partners and 2 SMEs alongside 5 universities and 4 research organizations. The 25% industry ratio indicates real commercial interest, though the project was research-focused as a Research and Innovation Action (RIA).

Consortium

Who built it

The CREATE consortium brings together 12 partners from 8 countries (DE, ES, FI, FR, IL, IT, UK, US), led by CNRS — one of Europe's largest public research organizations. The mix includes 5 universities, 4 research institutes, and 3 industrial partners (2 of which are SMEs), giving a 25% industry ratio. This is a research-heavy team, which fits the fundamental nature of the work — redesigning fuel cell chemistry from scratch. For a business looking to adopt these results, the presence of industrial partners signals that manufacturability was considered, but the academic-dominant composition means further engineering partnerships would likely be needed to bring products to market. The geographic spread across major European markets plus Israel and the US suggests broad applicability and potential for international licensing.

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSCoordinator · FR
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA TOR VERGATAparticipant · IT
FUNDACIO INSTITUT CATALA D'INVESTIGACIO QUIMICAparticipant · ES
EIFER EUROPAISCHES INSTITUT FUR ENERGIEFORSCHUNG EDF KIT EWIVparticipant · DE
FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JULICH GMBHparticipant · DE
UNIVERSITE DE MONTPELLIERthirdparty · FR
AALTO KORKEAKOULUSAATIO SRparticipant · FI
ITM POWER UK LIMITEDparticipant · UK
TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYparticipant · IL
PRETEXOparticipant · FR
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITYparticipant · US

How to reach the team

Coordinator is CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) in France. SciTransfer can help identify the right contact person and facilitate an introduction.

Order a report on this consortium See CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing CREATE's platinum-free catalyst or membrane technology? SciTransfer can connect you with the right consortium partner for your application — contact us for a tailored brief.

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