At the Fuel Cell and Electrolyser test facility, we support technology assessment and progress monitoring as well as developments in harmonisation and standardisation through the validation of testing protocols, test procedures and measurement methods for the performance assessment of fuel cells and electrolysers. The facility is utilised to support the European Hydrogen Strategy aiming to create and enable a test environment to scale up renewable and low carbon hydrogen supply and demand for a climate-neutral economy.
Electrolysers split water molecule into hydrogen and oxygen using electric energy, while fuel cells use hydrogen to produce heat and electricity in a clean and much more efficient way than, for example, conventional power generators. Production of hydrogen can be carbon-neutral when using electricity from renewable energy sources. Electrolysers will soon substitute current widespread-use of steam reforming of natural gas as a CO2 emittinghydrogen production method.
Presently, Fuel cell and Electrolyser technologies are demonstrated at larger and larger scales. But they are not yet in widespread commercial use especially in key industries (cement, chemical, fertilizer, food, glass, ceramic, metallurgy, etc) and for transport (road, rail, maritime). Further development research and development is still needed before they can fully compete commercially with other energy conversion technologies. To assess their progress, commonly agreed measures for system performance, durability, degradation and efficiency are need. This in turn requires harmonisation of testing protocols, test procedures and measurement methods to allow proper technology monitoring and assessment and to make informed technology choices for a range of applications, whether stationary or for transportation.
The Fuel Cell and Electrolyser test facility is available to projects from European academia and industry inclduing SMEs through the Open Access to JRC Research Infrastructures scheme as well as Horizon Europe, including the European Green Deal and the future Clean Hydrogen Partnership for Europe.
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