Imagine making hydrogen fuel without needing expensive rare metals like platinum, which usually make the machines too pricey. This project creates a new way to mass-produce these machines using 3D printing and automated assembly, similar to how cars are built on a line. It's about moving from hand-made lab samples to a factory-ready system that is cheaper and easier to recycle.
Current hydrogen electrolysers are too expensive due to the use of precious metals and slow, manual assembly processes that cannot scale to industrial demand.
An operational 25kW AEM electrolyser stack including balance-of-plant and automated manufacturing processes for components.
If you are a plant operator dealing with the high capital cost of PEM electrolysers — this project developed an AEM-based 25kW stack that removes the need for precious group metals. This reduces the cost of catalysts and bipolar plates while maintaining high current density.
If you are a manufacturer dealing with slow manual assembly and a lack of tooling — this project developed automated processes like 3D-screen printing for porous layers and metal plate forming. This allows for a faster transition from lab scale to industrial production.
If you are a recycling firm dealing with the difficulty of recovering rare metals from fuel cells — this project developed components focused on recyclability and non-precious materials. This simplifies the end-of-life process for hydrogen infrastructure.
It utilizes AEM technology which eliminates the need for expensive precious group metals in catalysts, porous transport layers, and bipolar plates. This leads to a more attractive cost/performance ratio compared to state-of-the-art PEM electrolysis.
Yes, the project specifically focuses on increasing the Manufacturing Readiness Level from 4 to 5 by developing automated processes such as 3D-screen printing and pilot-scale synthesis of polymers.
Based on available project data, the project is developing a business plan that includes a technology roadmap and product-market combinations, but specific licensing terms are not disclosed.
The project runs from 2023-06-01 to 2027-05-31, with validation occurring in three yearly loops.
The project delivers a 25kW electrolyser stack including the balance-of-plant, ensuring the core technology works with the necessary supporting hardware.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven, with 10 out of 12 partners being industrial entities (83% ratio), including 7 SMEs. This high concentration of commercial players, led by Schaeffler Technologies, indicates a strong focus on commercial viability and rapid scale-up rather than purely academic research.
Contact Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG regarding AEM electrolyser manufacturing
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