Development of non-fluorinated components for fuel cells and electrolysers
European Comission
ExpectedOutcome :
Green hydrogen is routinely cited as a major pillar of the clean energy transition by the European Commission, where fuel cell and electrolyser technologies are expected to play an important role in achieving Europe's emissions reduction targets. Proton exchange membrane (PEM)-based fuel cells (PEMFCs) and electrolysers (PEMELs) are currently among the most mature technologies, dominating both current capacity and expected near-term growth. Currently, all PEM-based hydrogen technologies rely on perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA)-based ionomers combined with a membrane reinforcement made from expanded polytetrafluorethylene (ePTFE) and contain polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in other functional layers such as the gas diffusion layer (GDL). These fluoropolymer PFSA and ePTFE components have exceptional chemical stability and durability, as well as high ionic conductivity and favourable wetting properties for optimal water balance. Together, these properties enable high performance PEMFC/PEMEL operation over extended lifetimes.
However, there is growing concern that per and polyfluorinated substances (PFASs) present health and environmental hazards as their production, degradation, and disposal can result in the release of perfluorinated compounds that accumulate in the environment. As a result, possible future European regulation of the use of PFAS compounds is under discussion.
The development of non-fluorinated proton exchange membranes with the same KPIs as fluorinated membranes (considering performance, durability, efficiency, and economic viability) but with lower environmental impact will be instrumental for the development of the hydrogen industry.
The development of non-toxic, safe-by-design, fluorine-free materials for the use in fuel cell and electrolyser technologies is, therefore, essential to ensure that renewable green hydrogen technologies remain environmentally friendly solutions. The development of stable, high-performance, non-fluorinated components has also the potential to produce innovative solutions that can provide advantages in cost-reduction, performance, and stability over the incumbent fluorinated materials which are exclusively used in today's hydrogen technologies. Furthermore, new approaches provide the opportunity to tailor material properties to the exact requirements to the component. This will contribute to the aim of the Clean Hydrogen JU to accelerate the development and deployment of the European value chain for safe and sustainable clean hydrogen technologies.
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
- The development of new non-fluorinated materials, e.g., proton exchange membrane, reinforcement, and catalyst layer ionomer, paving the path to fluorine-free PEM fuel cells and/or electrolysers;
- Ensuring that these new materials are free of the hazardous properties that currently characterise PFASs and that the risks for contamination are significantly reduced i.e., regrettable substitution need to be avoided;
- A breakthrough in performance and durability of fluorine-free PEM fuel cell and electrolyser technologies;
- Demonstration of full-scale PEMFC and/or PEMEL stacks which are free from fluorinated components by 2030;
- Contribute to the development of safe and sustainable clean hydrogen technologies in line with the European Green Deal;
- Contribute to the goals of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, an important part of the EU’s zero pollution ambition and a key commitment of the European Green Deal.
- Find new materials with a view to improve overall system and value chain sustainability (including durability) and environmental footprints
The project results are expected to contribute to the following objectives and KPIs of the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA:
- Ensure circularity by design for materials and for production processes, minimising the life-cycle environmental footprint of electrolysers and fuel cells;
- Reducing the use of critical (raw) materials with sustainability or environmental concerns, such as for instance those deriving from poly/perfluoroalkyls.
The project should make good progress towards the 2030 performance and durability targets for PEMFC and/or PEMEL technologies. For PEMFCs this corresponds to a power density >1.5 W/cm2 @ 0.650 V and a degradation rate < 5 µV/hr. For PEMEL this corresponds to an operating current density of 3.0 A/cm2 at a cell voltage of 1.8 V and a degradation rate < 5 µV/hr.
Scope :
The scope of this topic is limited to proton exchange membrane (PEM-based) fuel cells (PEMFCs) and/or electrolysers (PEMELs) because other hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyser technologies, e.g., high temperature solid oxide or proton conducting ceramics, and low temperature anion exchange membrane technologies typically do not incorporate PFAS in their materials components.
More specifically, the proposed project should focus on the development of non-fluorinated ionomers, both membrane and catalyst layer ionomer, as well as non-fluorinated membrane reinforcement materials to replace ePTFE-based membrane reinforcements.
Proposals should address the following:
- The development of non-fluorinated ionomers for membranes and catalyst layers with low resistance, low H2 permeability, high thermal and chemical stability, as well as, for membranes, high mechanical stability in both wet and dry states;
- The development of non-fluorinated membrane reinforcement technologies to enhance the mechanical strength and reduce the dimensional swelling of fluorine-free membranes;
- Studies investigating the use of non-fluorinated ionomers in the catalyst layer, including the optimisation of catalyst ink composition and subsequent catalyst layer deposition;
- Validation of single cells/short stacks in PEMFC and/or PEMEL (minimum cell size of 25 cm2) employing appropriate performance and durability protocols.
- Lifecycle and environmental impact assessment comparing the novel non-fluorinated components developed within the project with the existing fluorinated components to demonstrate the sustainability of the proposed solutions.
- Techno-economic analysis of the new non-fluorinated components to identify potential advantages in capital and/or operational expenditures is also considered within the scope of this topic.
Projects should build synergies with current projects that include the development on non-fluorinated fuel cell and electrolyser components, e.g., SUSTAINCELL and HIGHLANDER. Collaboration between academic institutes, research organisations, and industry partners are expected to address the scope of the topic in a suitable manner. The consortium should consist of at least one partner with the capability to produce membranes and/or catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs) at industrially relevant scales to ensure that the developed technologies are compatible with high-volume manufacturing technologies. This will ensure rapid market uptake and technology transfer following the conclusion of the project. The developed components should be demonstrated in a single cell PEM fuel cell and/or electrolysis cell. The minimum cell size for demonstration should be 25 cm2 and testing in a short stack of up to five cells could also be considered.
For activities developing test protocols and procedures for the performance and durability assessment of electrolysers and fuel cell components proposals should foresee a collaboration mechanism with JRC (see section 2.2.4.3 "Collaboration with JRC"), in order to support EU-wide harmonisation. Test activities should adopt the already published EU harmonised testing protocols to benchmark performance and quantify progress at programme level.
Proposals are expected to contribute towards the activities of Mission Innovation 2.0 - Clean Hydrogen Mission. Cooperation with entities from Clean Hydrogen Mission member countries, which are neither EU Member States nor Horizon Europe Associated countries, is encouraged (see section 2.2.6.7 International Cooperation).
For additional elements applicable to all topics please refer to section 2.2.3.2.
Activities are expected to start at TRL 2 and achieve TRL 4 by the end of the project - see General Annex B.
The JU estimates that an EU contribution of maximum EUR 3.00 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately.
The conditions related to this topic are provided in the chapter 2.2.3.2 of the Clean Hydrogen JU 2024 Annual Work Plan and in the General Annexes to the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023–2024 which apply mutatis mutandis.
Specific Topic Conditions :
Activities are expected to start at TRL 2 and achieve TRL 4 by the end of the project - See General Annex B.
General conditions
- Admissibility conditions: described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
Page limit for Innovation Actions
For all Innovation Actions the page limit of the applications are 70 pages.
- Eligible countries: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide .
- Other eligibility conditions: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
Additional eligibility condition: Maximum contribution per topic
For some topics, in line with the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA, an additional eligibility criterion has been introduced to limit the Clean Hydrogen JU requested contribution mostly for actions performed at high TRL level, including demonstration in real operational environment and with important involvement from industrial stakeholders and/or end users such as public authorities. Such actions are expected to leverage co-funding as commitment from stakeholders. It is of added value that such leverage is shown through the private investment in these specific topics. Therefore, proposals requesting contributions above the amounts specified per each topic below will not be evaluated:
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-01-05: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 10.00 million
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-02-03: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 6.00 million
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-02-04: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 6.00 million
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-02-05: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 8.00 million
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-03-04: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 6.00 million
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-04-01: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 5.00 million
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-06-01: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 20.00 million
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-06-02: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 9.00 million
Additional eligibility condition: Membership to Hydrogen Europe / Hydrogen Europe Research
F or some topics, in line with the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA, an additional eligibility criterion has been introduced to ensure that one partner in the consortium is a member of either Hydrogen Europe or Hydrogen Europe Research. This concerns topics targeting actions for large-scale demonstrations, flagship projects and strategic research actions, where the industrial and research partners of the Clean Hydrogen JU are considered to play a key role in accelerating the commercialisation of hydrogen technologies by being closely linked to the Clean Hydrogen JU constituency, which could further ensure full alignment with the SRIA of the JU. This approach shall also ensure the continuity of the work performed within projects funded through the H2020 and FP7, by building up on their experience and consolidating the EU value-chain. In the Call 2024 this applies to the demonstration of innovative hydrogen production for energy intensive industries and the chemical sectors, demonstration of innovative technologies for the distribution of hydrogen including multi-purpose hydrogen refueling infrastructure, demonstration of hydrogen-powered inland shipping or short sea shipping solutions. This will also apply to the two Hydrogen Valley topics as they are considered of strategic importance for the European Union ambitions to double the number of Hydrogen Valleys by 2025. For these flagship topics large amount of co-investment/co-funding of project participants/beneficiaries including national and regional programmes is expected. This applies to the following topics:
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-01-05
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-02-03
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-02-04
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-02-05
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-03-04
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-04-01
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-06-01
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-06-02
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes
Evaluation and award:
Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes
Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual
Seal of Excellence:
For the two topics in the Call 2024 addressing Hydrogen Valleys, the ‘Seal of Excellence’ will be awarded to applications exceeding all of the evaluation thresholds set out in this Annual Work Programme but cannot be funded due to lack of budget available to the call. This will further improve the chances of good proposals, otherwise not selected, to find alternative funding in other Union programmes, including those managed by national or regional Managing Authorities. With prior authorisation from the applicants, the Clean Hydrogen JU may share information concerning the proposal and the evaluation with interested financing authorities. In this Annual Work Programme ‘Seal of Excellence’ will be awarded for the following topic(s):
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-06-01
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-06-0 2
- Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes
- Legal and financial set-up of the grants: described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes
In addition to the standard provisions, the following specific provisions in the model grant agreement will apply:
- Lump Sum
This year’s call for proposals will take the form of lump sums as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021- 2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025). Lump sums will be used across all topics in the Call 2024.
- Full capitalised costs for purchases of equipment, infrastructure or other assets purchased specifically for the action
For some topics, in line with the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA, mostly large-scale demonstrators or flagship projects specific equipment, infrastructure or other assets purchased specifically for the action (or developed as part of the action tasks) can exceptionally be declared as full capitalised costs. This concerns the topics below:
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-01-05
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-02-03
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-02-04
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-02-05
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-03-04
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-04-01
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-06-01
HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-06-02
- Subcontracting
For all topics: an additional obligation regarding subcontracting has been introduced, namely that subcontracted work may only be performed in target countries set out in the call conditions.
The beneficiaries must ensure that the subcontracted work is performed in the countries set out in the call conditions.
The target countries are all Member States of the European Union and all Associated Countries.
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025). [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
Specific conditions
- Specific conditions: described in the chapter 2.2.3.2 of the Clean Hydrogen JU 2024 Annual Work Programme
Documents
Call documents:
Application form
Evaluation form
Model Grant Agreement (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
Clean Hydrogen JU - Annual Work Programme 2024 (AWP 2024)
Clean Hydrogen JU - Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA)
Lump Sums Guidance
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 13. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual