Innovative proton conducting ceramic electrolysis cells and stacks for intermediate temperature hydrogen production
HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions
Basic Information
- Identifier
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-01-01
- Programme
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024
- Programme Period
- 2021 - 2027
- Status
- Closed (31094503)
- Opening Date
- January 18, 2024
- Deadline
- April 17, 2024
- Deadline Model
- single-stage
- Budget
- €145,000,000
- Min Grant Amount
- €6,000,000
- Max Grant Amount
- €6,000,000
- Expected Number of Grants
- 1
- Keywords
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-01-01HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024Hydrogen
Description
To realise the potential of hydrogen as an energy vector in the decarbonised economy it needs to be produced sustainably on a mass scale. Steam electrolysis based on proton conducting ceramic electrolysis cells (PCCEL) is a promising technology for directly producing dry hydrogen, and achieving high electrical stack efficiency and low degradation rate due to its operation at intermediate temperature, typically between 450°C and 700°C. PCCEL stack technology in Europe is currently based on tubular cells integrating Ni-cermet electrodes, BaZr1-x-yCexYyO3-d based electrolytes, and composite electrodes containing Cobalt (Co) and various rare earth elements. The intermediate operating temperature of this technology can be leveraged to replace these materials by e.g. cheaper steel-based components to reduce reliance on critical raw materials and strategic raw materials (CSRM) such as Co, rare earth elements, Nickel (Ni) etc. It will furthermore contribute to increasing lifetime by reducing thermally activated degradation and improving Faradaic efficiency. This calls for a new design approach of PCCEL cell and stack, ensuring the development of high-performance cell and stack with reduced amount of CRM and CSRM. This will further contribute to significant reduction of CAPEX of the technology.
The outcome of this topic will be an innovative low-cost cell and stack concept with improved current density than State-of-the-Art (SOA), which can be operated at intermediate temperatures (≤ 600oC) and exhibiting longer lifetime than SOA for energy efficient hydrogen production.
Project results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes:
- Novel cells and stacks designed for operational temperatures ≤ 600°C and faradaic efficiency above 90%.
- Cells and stacks produced by scalable manufacturing techniques with potential for later integration and automation into a pilot line.
- Strengthened European value chain on electrolyser components with decreased reliability of critical and strategic raw materials from international imports.
- European leadership for renewable hydrogen production based on PCCEL electrolysers.
Project results are expected to contribute by the end of the project to all of the following objectives and KPIs of the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA:
- Demonstrate successful start-up of the stack with a hot idle ramp time of 240s and cold start ramp time of 6h;
- Increase current density of cells above or equal to 0.75 A/cm2 at thermal neutral voltage at temperatures ≤ 600°C;
- Demonstrate short stack based on 5 single repeating units (SRU) with minimum total stack active area of 250 cm2 operated under representative conditions over > 2000 h targeting a degradation rate < 0.5 % / 1000h;
- Establish a roadmap for defining technological pathways enabling to reach CAPEX of 1400€/(kg/d) and OPEX of 85 €/(kg/d)/y.
PCCEL stack technology in Europe is largely based on tubular cell design enabling pressurised operation up to 10 bar at 600°C, as demonstrated in the WINNER and GAMER projects, while recent work published in the literature also addresses planar cell and stack development. The state-of-the-art cells consist of traditional Ni-cermet electrode, BaZr1-x-yCexYyO3-d based electrolyte, and composite electrodes containing Co and various rare earth elements, exhibiting current density peaking at 0.3 A/cm2 at 600°C at thermoneutral voltage. The topic focuses on the development of new cell and stack designs aiming at improving the performance and flexibility of operation, while reducing costly ceramic-based components and critical raw materials and strategic raw materials (e.g. light and heavy rare earth materials, LREE and HREE, Ni, Co) https://www.crmalliance.eu/hrees. Improved thermal and load cycling capabilities (faster and higher number of thermal cycles) should be ensured by designing new cells and/or stacks, e.g. electrode or metal supported cells/stacks, cells with integrated interconnect/current collector/electrode, metal-based monolith cells/stacks, etc. This can be sought by nano-engineering and/or self-assembly of interfaces, integrating several functionalities in single components and/or by developing thinner layers to reduce material consumption and ohmic losses.
The new sustainable-by-design electrolysers will operate at temperature ≤ 600°C to minimise thermally induced degradation and promote efficient thermal management.
Proposals should address the following requirements:
- Design of new cells and/or stacks e.g. metal or electrode supported cells/stacks, cells with integrated interconnect/current collector/electrode and/or metal-based monolith cells/stacks and/or intrinsically more robust cell/stack design/assembly, and validation on single cell and short stack level;
- Dedicated test protocols at cell and/or short stack level will be developed to establish performance and degradation rate of the cell/short stack under variable load profiles. Accelerated stress tests could be applied for shortening the testing time for degradation evaluation. This task will also contribute to evaluate the flexibility of operation of the devices;
- The stack design shall be assisted by fluid dynamics and multi-physics modelling to determine the optimal cell and stack architectures considering the specific electrochemistry and the thermal management within the stack, as well as to define optimal operating conditions of the stack;
- Increased current density of the cells should be obtained by e.g., designing thinner electrolytes and/or new electrodes with improved materials/architectures;
- Increased Faradaic efficiency shall be obtained by implementing materials solutions and/or by optimising operating strategy;
- Corrosion stability of the metal-based components should be validated in relevant operating conditions, in particular for the steam side of the electrolyser, and if needed, improved by development of protective coatings;
- Degradation mechanisms of the stack components should be identified with respect to temperature, steam content and utilisation, and pressure (for pressurised solution);
- The cell and stack manufacturing methods should be based on processes with potential for later upscaling, automation and mass-manufacturing;
- Techno-economic evaluation of the steam electrolyser integrated in given application(s) and considering economy of scale will provide the Levelised Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) and will be used to provide insights into relevant business models. The CAPEX and OPEX of the novel stack concept will be evaluated;
- Proposals are expected to address sustainability aspects via Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) by reducing the use of critical raw materials compared to state-of-art cells and/or stacks and/or their recycling.
Consortia are expected to build on the expertise from the European research and industrial community to ensure broad impact by addressing several of the aforementioned items.
Proposals should demonstrate how they go beyond the ambition of projects WINNER, GAMER, PROTOSTACK, METPROCELL and DAICHI European projects and be complementary to them.
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.
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
Eligibility & Conditions
General conditions
General conditions
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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
For 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
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes
-
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-CLEANH2-2024-06-02
-
Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes
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]].
6. 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:
1. 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.
2. 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
3. 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.
Specific conditions
7. Specific conditions: described in the chapter 2.2.3.2 of the Clean Hydrogen JU 2024 Annual Work Programme
Documents
Call documents:
Application form
- Application form - Part B (HE CleanH2 JU RIA, IA)
- Application form - Part B (HE CleanH2 JU CSA)
Evaluation form
- Evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Model Grant Agreement (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
- Detailed budget table (HE LS)
Clean Hydrogen JU - Annual Work Programme 2024 (AWP 2024)
- AWP 2024
Clean Hydrogen JU - Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA)
Lump Sums Guidance
- Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
- Comprehensive information on lump sum funding in Horizon Europe
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
Support & Resources
Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe.
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management.
Research Enquiry Service – ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular.
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IT Helpdesk – contact the Funding & Tenders Portal IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.
European IPR Helpdesk assists you on intellectual property issues.
CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk – the European Standards Organisations advise you how to tackle standardisation in your project proposal.
The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers.
Partner Search Services help you find a partner organisation for your proposal.
Specific FAQ document from call HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024
Latest Updates
CALL UPDATE:
An overview of the evaluation results for the call HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024 is now available. More information can be found in this document: FLASH EVALUATION RESULTS
CALL UPDATE: PROPOSAL NUMBERS
Call HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024 has closed on the 17/04/2024.
151 proposals have been submitted.
The breakdown per topic is:
RENEWABLE HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-01-01: 9 proposals
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-01-02: 12 proposals
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-01-03: 23 proposals
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-01-04: 10 proposals
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-01-05: 3 proposals
HYDROGEN STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-02-01: 2 proposals
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-02-02: 6 proposals
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-02-03: 2 proposals
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-02-04: 1 proposal
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-02-05: 2 proposals
HYDROGEN END USES: TRANSPORT APPLICATIONS
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-03-01: 3 proposals
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-03-02: 3 proposals
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-03-03: 10 proposals
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-03-04: 2 proposals
HYDROGEN END USES: CLEAN HEAT AND POWER
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-04-01: 10 proposals
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-04-02: 8 proposals
CROSS-CUTTING
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-05-01: 6 proposals
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-05-02: 10 proposals
HYDROGEN VALLEYS
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-06-01: 12 proposals
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-06-02: 17 proposals
Evaluation results are expected to be communicated in end of July – beginning August 2024
The correct text for topic HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-03-04 is available in the Work Programme 2024 and stipulates:
- Topic description: “Activities are expected to start at TRL 5 and achieve TRL 7 by the end of the project - see General Annex B”
- Topic conditions “HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-03-04: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 6.00 million”
In section "Get support" the Specific FAQ document from call HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024 has been updated
In section "Get support" the Specific FAQ document from call HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024 has been updated
The excel detailed budget table available in the submission system “Download Part B templates” section had incorrect funding rate options of 60% and 100%.
Today, the issue has been rectified and the excel detailed budget table is now displaying the correct funding rate options of 70% and 100%.
Please make sure you download and use the correct budget table in your submission.
In section "Get support" the Specific FAQ document from call HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024 has been updated