High performance coatings for PEM eletrolyser metallic bipolar plates - COATELY

Project summary

In order to be able to take full advantage of intermittent renewable energy sources, the energy needs to be stored. This energy can be stored as hydrogen, and later be converted to energy in fuel cells. The desired way to produce hydrogen is by water electrolysis, and the most energy efficient system is the polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzer. A major obstacle for commercialization of PEM electrolysers is the expensive bipolar plates, which nowadays are made of titanium. The bipolare plate for a PEM electrolyzer is very challenging compared to a PEM fuel cell because of the fact that the anodic potential is twofold. The proposed project has acknowledged the problem, and two highly innovative ways to both reduce cost and increase the total system performance of the electrolyzer is suggested. The COATELY project aims at developing high performance new generation coatings for cost-effective stainless steel BPP for PEM technology deposited by advanced coating techniques.