WINNER · Project

Ceramic Cell Technology for Cheaper Hydrogen Production, Extraction and Compression

energyTestedTRL 5

Imagine a special ceramic membrane that can pull hydrogen out of ammonia or other chemicals the way a coffee filter separates grounds from liquid — but at high temperatures and with incredible efficiency. The WINNER project built and tested these ceramic cells for three real jobs: cracking ammonia to get hydrogen back out, stripping hydrogen from hydrocarbon chemicals, and running electrolysis in both directions so you can store and release energy. Think of it as a Swiss Army knife for hydrogen — one core technology, multiple industrial uses. The team also built computer models to predict how these cells perform and degrade over time, so manufacturers know what they are getting before they buy.

By the numbers

industrial applications demonstrated (ammonia cracking, dehydrogenation, steam electrolysis)

consortium partners

countries in the consortium

total project deliverables

demo-type deliverables including engineering models and test samples

versions of the engineering model delivered

The business problem

What needed solving

Producing, extracting, and compressing hydrogen at small to medium scale is currently expensive and energy-intensive, especially when pulling hydrogen from ammonia or hydrocarbon carriers. Chemical plants need flexible technology that can handle multiple hydrogen-related reactions without separate equipment for each process. Existing solutions like PEM electrolysis struggle with durability and cost at smaller scales where centralized infrastructure is not justified.

The solution

What was built

The project built and tested proton conducting ceramic cells in tubular form, assembled into flexible multi-tube modules with a new pressure-less current collection system. They delivered 2 versions of an engineering model, manufactured coated steel components, model electrode samples, and half-cells that were distributed across partners for testing in 3 applications: ammonia cracking, hydrocarbon dehydrogenation, and reversible steam electrolysis.

Audience

Who needs this

Ammonia-to-hydrogen conversion plant operatorsChemical companies running dehydrogenation processesRenewable energy companies building hydrogen storage systemsHydrogen refueling station developers needing on-site productionIndustrial gas companies looking for compact hydrogen purification units

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Ammonia and Fertilizer Industry

mid-size

Target: Ammonia storage and distribution companies

If you are an ammonia logistics or distribution company dealing with the challenge of converting stored ammonia back into usable hydrogen at the point of consumption — this project developed proton conducting ceramic cells and multi-tube modules tested for ammonia cracking at industrially relevant conditions. The technology enables small to medium scale hydrogen extraction from ammonia, which could eliminate the need for large centralized cracking plants. With 8 partners across 6 countries validating the approach, the engineering models and test data from 32 deliverables provide a solid technical foundation.

Chemical and Petrochemical Processing

enterprise

Target: Chemical companies doing hydrocarbon dehydrogenation

If you are a chemical processor running dehydrogenation reactions and struggling with energy efficiency and hydrogen separation costs — this project built and tested ceramic cell modules specifically for dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons. The proton conducting ceramic technology extracts hydrogen directly during the reaction, improving conversion rates while producing pure hydrogen as a valuable co-product. The consortium included 4 industry partners who helped validate the technology under industrially relevant conditions.

Green Hydrogen and Energy Storage

mid-size

Target: Renewable energy operators needing hydrogen storage solutions

If you are a renewable energy operator looking for flexible energy storage through hydrogen — this project demonstrated reversible steam electrolysis using proton conducting ceramic cells that can switch between producing hydrogen and generating electricity. This means one device handles both storage and dispatch, reducing equipment costs for small to medium scale installations. The team delivered engineering models in 2 versions and conducted techno-economic assessments to map out real-world viability.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to adopt this ceramic cell technology compared to conventional electrolysis?

The project conducted a techno-economic assessment, but specific cost figures are not published in the available data. The technology targets small to medium scale operations, which suggests a lower capital entry point than large-scale PEM or alkaline electrolysis plants. Contact the coordinator for detailed cost projections from their techno-economic models.

Can this scale to industrial production volumes?

The current technology was validated using tubular cells assembled in multi-tube modules operating at industrially relevant conditions. The project specifically used eco-friendly and scalable manufacturing routes, indicating the design was built with scale-up in mind. However, this remains at prototype-to-tested stage, not yet at full industrial scale deployment.

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

The project was coordinated by SINTEF AS with contributions from 8 partners including Shell and ENGIE. IP from RIA-funded projects typically belongs to the partners who generated it. Licensing discussions would need to go through the consortium, likely starting with SINTEF as coordinator.

How long do these ceramic cells last under real operating conditions?

The project specifically studied degradation mechanisms associated with materials properties and interface evolution during operation. They used advanced operando and in-situ methods to establish correlations between performance and degradation. Based on available project data, specific lifetime numbers are not published, but the durability testing data exists within the consortium.

Does this technology meet current hydrogen purity and safety regulations?

The technology handles hydrogen purification and compression as core functions, producing high-purity hydrogen through the proton conducting ceramic membrane. A Life Cycle Assessment was also conducted. Based on available project data, specific regulatory certifications are not mentioned, but the industrial partners (Shell, ENGIE) would have ensured regulatory alignment.

How difficult is it to integrate these cells into existing chemical plant infrastructure?

The project developed a flexible multi-tube module design and a pressure-less current collection system, both aimed at simplifying integration. Engineering models were delivered in 2 versions to help predict performance in different configurations. The 3 demonstrated applications — ammonia cracking, dehydrogenation, and steam electrolysis — show the platform adapts to different process environments.

Consortium

Who built it

The WINNER consortium brings together 8 partners from 6 countries (Denmark, Spain, France, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden), with a strong 50% industry ratio — 4 industry partners alongside 2 universities and 2 research organizations. Notably, the consortium includes major energy players Shell and ENGIE, which signals serious industrial interest and provides direct pathways to market deployment. SINTEF, the coordinator, is one of Europe's largest independent research organizations with deep expertise in materials and energy technology. The geographic spread across Northern and Western Europe covers key hydrogen economy markets. No SMEs are in the consortium, which means the technology transfer path likely runs through licensing to equipment manufacturers or further development by the industrial partners themselves.

SINTEF ASCoordinator · NO
ENGIEparticipant · FR
AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICASparticipant · ES
UNIVERSITETET I OSLOparticipant · NO
ALLEIMA TUBE ABparticipant · SE
DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITETparticipant · DK
COORSTEK MEMBRANE SCIENCES ASparticipant · NO
SHELL GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL BVparticipant · NL

How to reach the team

SINTEF AS (Norway) — search for the WINNER project coordinator at SINTEF to request technical details or licensing information

Order a report on this consortium See SINTEF AS profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to know if WINNER's ceramic hydrogen technology fits your production setup? SciTransfer can arrange a direct briefing with the research team and help you evaluate the business case.

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