GAMER · Project

Cheaper Pressurized Hydrogen From Industrial Waste Heat Using Ceramic Electrolysers

energyTestedTRL 5

Imagine splitting water into hydrogen using electricity — but instead of needing expensive cooling and compression steps, you do it at high temperature and the hydrogen comes out already pressurized, ready to use. GAMER built a new type of ceramic cell that works like a tube-shaped filter, letting only hydrogen pass through when heated to 500-700°C. The clever part? It hooks up to waste heat from factories, so energy that would normally be lost actually helps produce clean hydrogen. Think of it as turning your factory's exhaust heat into fuel.

By the numbers

10 kW

Electrolyser system capacity demonstrated

30 bars

Minimum hydrogen outlet pressure

500-700°C

Operating temperature range

TRL3 to TRL5

Technology readiness advancement

8 partners

Consortium size across 4 countries

50%

Industry partner ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Industrial hydrogen production today relies heavily on fossil fuels (grey hydrogen) or expensive low-temperature electrolysers that need additional compression to reach usable pressures. Companies in refining, chemicals, and fertilizers face mounting pressure to decarbonize their hydrogen supply, but current green hydrogen options are too costly due to high electricity consumption and the need for separate compression equipment.

The solution

What was built

The project built and tested tubular proton ceramic electrolyser cells, assembled them into 1st and 2nd generation Single Engineering Units (SEUs) in steel shells, and demonstrated a 10 kW electrolyser system producing pure pressurized hydrogen at minimum 30 bars. Components were qualified for operation at 500-700°C with thermal coupling to waste heat sources.

Audience

Who needs this

Refinery operators looking to replace grey hydrogen with green alternativesAmmonia and fertilizer producers needing decarbonized hydrogen supplyIndustrial gas companies expanding green hydrogen portfoliosGreen hydrogen project developers seeking high-efficiency electrolyser technologyHeavy industry plants with available waste heat at 500-700°C

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Oil Refining & Petrochemicals

enterprise

Target: Refineries needing on-site hydrogen supply

If you are a refinery operator dealing with rising costs of grey hydrogen from steam methane reforming — this project developed a 10 kW ceramic electrolyser system that produces pure pressurized hydrogen at minimum 30 bars directly, eliminating the need for separate compression equipment. The system couples to your existing waste heat sources at 500-700°C, cutting electricity consumption compared to low-temperature electrolysers.

Chemical Manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Ammonia and fertilizer producers

If you are a chemical company like an ammonia producer needing large volumes of clean hydrogen — this project built modular tubular electrolysis units (SEUs) encased in steel shells that can be scaled up for industrial capacity. Advisory board members YARA and AirLiquide were involved, confirming relevance to fertilizer and industrial gas sectors. The modular design means you can add capacity incrementally.

Renewable Energy Integration

mid-size

Target: Green hydrogen project developers and system integrators

If you are a green hydrogen developer struggling with the efficiency gap between renewable electricity and usable pressurized hydrogen — this project progressed tubular proton ceramic electrolyser technology from TRL3 to TRL5, with designs for thermal and electrical integration with renewable or waste heat sources. The 30 bars outlet pressure reduces downstream compression costs significantly.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would a system like this cost compared to current electrolysers?

The project does not publish specific cost figures. However, the objective explicitly targets cost-effective production through high-volume manufacturing of tubular cells and by eliminating separate compression equipment (hydrogen exits at minimum 30 bars). Coupling to waste heat also reduces the electricity bill, which is typically 60-80% of hydrogen production cost.

Can this scale to industrial hydrogen volumes?

The demonstrated system is a 10 kW electrolyser — still at laboratory-to-pilot scale (TRL5). However, the modular SEU design with tubular steel shells was specifically engineered to be amenable to various industrial scales. Scaling up would involve bundling more SEUs rather than redesigning the core technology.

Who owns the intellectual property and can I license it?

The consortium is led by SINTEF AS (Norway) with 8 partners across 4 countries. IP would be distributed among partners including cell manufacturer CMS and system integrators MC2 and CRI. Licensing inquiries would need to go through the consortium, likely starting with SINTEF as coordinator.

What regulations or certifications apply?

Pressurized hydrogen equipment at 30 bars falls under the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) in Europe. The project addressed risk management including technical and economic aspects. Any commercial deployment would need to meet hydrogen safety standards and industrial pressure vessel certifications.

How long before this technology is commercially available?

The project ended in September 2022 at TRL5 (technology validated in relevant environment). Based on typical development timelines, reaching commercial deployment (TRL8-9) would require additional engineering, certification, and scale-up work. The involvement of Shell, YARA, and AirLiquide on the advisory board suggests industry pull for continued development.

Can this integrate with our existing plant infrastructure?

The system was specifically designed for thermal coupling with existing industrial waste heat sources at 500-700°C. The project developed flowsheets for integrated processes and robust engineering routes for thermal and electrical integration. The modular SEU-in-steel-shell design supports retrofit into existing facilities.

Consortium

Who built it

The GAMER consortium of 8 partners across 4 countries (Spain, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway) is well-balanced with a 50% industry ratio — unusually high for a research project. It covers the full value chain: CMS manufactures cells, MC2 and CRI handle system integration, SINTEF, UiO, and CSIC provide research expertise. Critically, end users Shell, YARA, and AirLiquide sit on the advisory board, signaling real market pull from major hydrogen consumers in refining, fertilizers, and industrial gases. The 2 SMEs in the consortium suggest the technology is being developed with commercialization pathways in mind, not just academic output.

SINTEF ASCoordinator · NO
STIFTELSEN SINTEFparticipant · NO
AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICASparticipant · ES
UNIVERSITETET I OSLOparticipant · NO
CRI EHFparticipant · IS
SHELL GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL BVparticipant · NL
COORSTEK MEMBRANE SCIENCES ASparticipant · NO

How to reach the team

SINTEF AS in Norway coordinated this project. Use SciTransfer's coordinator lookup to find the right contact person.

Order a report on this consortium See SINTEF AS profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the GAMER team? SciTransfer can connect you with the right people at SINTEF and their industrial partners. Contact us for a matchmaking consultation.

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