H2PLAN

The H2PLAN project is a component of the Ministry of Science and Innovation’s Complementary Energy and Renewable Hydrogen Plans. Its objective is to establish, incorporate, and enhance green hydrogen as a solution for the electrification of the energy system, as well as the decarbonization of transport and industry. This project is made up of two Elkartek projects from the 2021 Program: H2BASQUE (Technologies to boost the hydrogen economy in the Basque Country: Generation of green hydrogen) and ERABILH2 (Advanced solutions for the integration and optimal operation of H2-based devices in final applications: mobility and industrial use), and has received funding from the Basque Government and the European Union through the European Fund for Regional Development 2021-2027 (ERDF).

Hydrogen is currently being positioned as a critical component of the energy transition, following decades of anticipation regarding its potential as an energy vector. This is due to its significant potential to contribute to the decarbonization of the economy, the reduction of fossil fuel imports, the increased penetration of renewable energies in the electricity mix, and a significant contribution to the circular economy.

In this very favourable context for the development and implementation of hydrogen technologies, the objective of the H2PLAN project is to develop innovative green hydrogen generation technologies that reduce cost, reduce the use of critical materials and improve the performance of the hydrogen production process, with respect to the state of the art, as well as the development of advanced solutions for its integration and optimal operation in mobility and industrial applications.

The H2PLAN project will focus on the development of key components of innovative technologies for green hydrogen generation at a competitive cost: i) AEM electrolysis (Anion Exchange Membrane), ii) PEM electrolysis (Proton Exchange Membrane) and iii) hydrogen generation through thermochemical cycles, as well as the generation of knowledge and development of advanced technological solutions for the integration and optimal operation of H2-based systems with the ultimate aim of promoting the end use of this energy vector in mobility and industrial use applications.

CIDETEC’S role in the project:

CIDETEC, leader of Activity 3: Research and development of PEM electrolyzer, addresses the development of components for low temperature PEM electrolysis for the production of hydrogen, which represents an advance with respect to the current state of technology, and culminates in the assembly of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). for PEM electrolysis with improved performance. Specifically, CIDETEC’s role includes the following actions:

• Development of proton exchange membranes to be used as electrolyte in membrane electrolyzers.
• Development of strategies to improve electrocatalysts for the oxygen release reaction (OER) in membrane electrolyzers.
• Development of strategies to improve electrocatalysts for the hydrogen release reaction (HER) in membrane electrolyzers.
• Manufacture of membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) and their electrochemical characterisation for hydrogen production.