HERAQCLES
HERAQCLES stands for new manufacturing approaches for Hydrogen Electrolysers to provide Reliable AEM technology-based solutions while achieving Quality, Circularity, low LCOH, high Efficiency and Scalability.
Project description
The HERAQCLES project aims to develop an innovative anion exchange membrane (AEM) technology that uses a design-for-manufacturing architecture and newly developed components. This approach also seeks to overcome stack manufacturing process bottlenecks, improve cost efficiency and enhance overall performance. The project’s objectives include advancing manufacturing readiness level, enhancing components to comply with a concept for automation at industrial scale, and validating the solution with a focus on improving sustainability, recyclability and quality.
The project has received funding from the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking (now Clean Hydrogen Partnership) under Grant Agreement No 101111784. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme, Hydrogen Europe and Hydrogen Europe Research.
Further informationen
Electrolysis can ensure the success of the energy transition | medias
Objectives
The project HERAQCLES has the ambition to deliver an operational 25kW electrolyser stack by 2027, including balance-of-plant based on AEM technology to validate both our novel design-for-manufacturing architecture and innovative components developed for automated production processes. AEM electrolysis offers a more attractive cost/performance ratio compared to state-of-art PEM electrolysis because these is no need to utilise precious group metals in stack components like catalysts, porous transport layers and bipolar plates for generating hydrogen at reasonably high current density.
Public reports
Work package 1 - project management
Work package 4 - development of catalyst coated PTLs and MEA formation
Work package 5 - stack hardware development and manufacturing
Work package 7 - communication, dissemination, IP exploitation, synergies
Consortium
HERAQCLES is a joint project, funded by the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, coordinated by Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG that gathers research and industrial partners:
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Italy)
- VITO – Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (Belgium)
- Manufacture Française des Pneumatiques Michelin (France)
- HYGEAR B.V. (Netherlands)
- MONOLITHOS Catalysts and Recycling Ltd (Greece)
- Exentis Technology GmbH (Germany)
- John Cockerill Hydrogen (Belgium)
The experienced consortium brings together a unique combination of know-hows and manufacturing capabilities provided by strong representation from industrial partners.
News & Events
M36 consortium meeting in Messina and project highlights
The 36 months progress meeting took place at the facilities of CNR-ITAE in Messina and provided an opportunity for partners to review the project's latest technical achievements and key milestones:
- A cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and scalable recycling process for end-of-life MEAs of AEM water electrolyser has been developed and validated. The results demonstrate the feasibility of a second-life approach for electrolyser components, reducing material waste and supporting a circular and sustainable pathway for green hydrogen production.
- The first AEM membrane from newly developed chemical objects was successfully obtained and demonstrated encouraging conductivity properties.
- PTLs samples have been scaled up to the dimensions required for the test stack and manufacturing of the first upscaled components has been initiated.
- The electrolyser system has completed an extensive validation campaign, demonstrating stable and efficient hydrogen production across a wide range of industrially relevant operating conditions. The system consistently maintained strong performance throughout this broad operating window, confirming its robustness under the demanding conditions expected in real-world applications.
- Preliminary life-cycle assessments highlighted the strong sustainability potential of the HERAQCLES AEM technology.
5th consortium meeting after 24 months of project duration in Clermont Ferrand
The 5th progress meeting took place on June 5th at the facilities of Michelin in Clermont Ferrand. This hybrid meeting allowed partners to discuss the project’s significant advancements and milestones reached:
- An innovative process for manufacturing highly performing reinforced AEM hydrocarbon membrane have been established.
- The stack prototype is ready for testing.
- The test rig is about to be finalized, tests will start soon.
M12 consortium meeting in Athens
The M12 progress meeting for the EU funded project HERAQCLES project took place on June 26th and 27th 2024 at the facilities of Monolithos Catalysts & Recycling Ltd. in Athens. In this hybrid meeting, partners participated both onsite and online to discuss the significant advancements of the project. During this productive session, insightful discussions were held, and innovative ideas were worked on.
HERAQCLES partners were able to experience a live demonstration of Monolithos hydrometallurgical leching method for recycling electrocatalysts from AEM electrolyser´s membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), ensuring perspectives for second-life application.
Contact
Birgit Fischer
Funding Strategy – Public Funding
Joachim Horlamus
Customer Projects Hydrogen