Electrolyser Testing Facility

The Electrolyser and Fuel Cell Testing Facility (ELTEST) at the JRC site in Petten, The Netherlands, supports technology assessment and progress monitoring while contributing to harmonisation and standardisation. It develops and validates testing protocols and measurement methods for evaluating the performance of electrolyser and fuel cell systems.

How electrolysers and fuel cells work

Electrolysers split water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity, while fuel cells convert hydrogen back into electricity and heat with efficiencies that can exceed those of conventional power generation technologies. The only by-product of the fuel cell reaction is water, meaning no direct greenhouse gas emissions are produced.

When powered by renewable electricity, electrolysers produce renewable hydrogen. This provides an alternative to steam reforming of natural gas, which currently accounts for most CO₂-intensive hydrogen production, and supports the development of low-carbon hydrogen supply chains aligned with European climate neutrality goals.

Methodology

ELTEST evaluates both low-temperature water electrolysers and high-temperature steam electrolysers, assessing performance, durability, safety, and environmental impact in line with the European Hydrogen Strategy. The facility also applies accelerated stress testing to extrapolate long-term degradation from shorter experimental campaigns. In doing so, it addresses key challenges related to scaling up renewable hydrogen production and supports the EU’s transition to a climate-neutral economy.

Technology readiness and industrial deployment gaps

Electrolyser and fuel cell technologies are now being demonstrated at increasingly large scales, reaching the megawatt range. However, they have not yet achieved widespread commercial deployment in key industrial sectors such as cement, chemicals, fertilisers, steel production, food processing, glass, ceramics, and metallurgy, nor in transport applications including road, rail, maritime, and aviation.

Continued research, development, and standardisation are needed for these systems to become economically competitive with established energy technologies.

Measurement standards and future scaling

To track progress and enable broader adoption, universally accepted metrics are required to assess performance, durability, degradation, efficiency, safety and sustainability.

This calls for further harmonisation of testing protocols and measurement methods through pre-normative research, enabling consistent technology evaluation and informed decision-making across both stationary and transport applications.