PARTNERS
Project Consortium
The Hy-SPIRE project involves a consortium of key players in the European SOC research scene, encompassing the entire value chain from basic research to industrial implementation. The consortium is made up of 7 partners from six European countries.
The Institute of Power Engineering - National Research Institute
Website: https://ien.com.pl/
The Institute of Power Engineering – National Research Institute (IPE-NRI) is a state owned R&D Centre established in 1953.
The Institute is one of the largest research centers in Poland and Central Europe working in the field of energy technologies. The IPE-NRI covers broad range of services in the field of power engineering, energy-intensive industries, chemical and petrochemical plants, electrical grids, power electronics, advanced materials, ceramics and aviation. In relation to the power sector, the Institute provides consulting and advisory, delivers services, components and systems related the most advanced technologies such as electrolyzers, fuel cells, clean coal technologies and renewable energy sources.
Total of approximately 400 researchers work directly with the industry worldwide and rely on experience collected over 70 years. This is complemented by unique research infrastructure. The Institute offers cooperation in the creation and implementation of new projects to develop energy technologies and high-quality expertise, technical testing and analysis for the energy sector.
The Institute is a member of the Executive Committee of the European Energy Research Alliance EERA. Research teams of IPE-NRI are involved in research projects funded by international agencies, European Commission, National Centre for Research and Development, and, most importantly, funded directly by the industry. Commercial activities correspond to almost 75% of annual revenues.
The Center for Hydrogen Technologies (CTH2) was established in 2020 to deliver stacks and systems with solid oxide fuel cells and solid oxide electrolyzers, accelerate the development of hydrogen technologies, support R&D activities and deployment of fuel cells and electrolyzers as well multi-fuel combustors, provide outreach to the market and consulting services for industries.
The CTH2 coordinates and integrates activities of IPE-NRI in the field of hydrogen technologies at the Department of High Temperature Electrochemical Processes (HiTEP), Department of Thermal Processes, Ceramic Department (CEREL), Gdansk Branch of IPE-NRI, and individual experts. Center engages total of 60 researchers from all disciplines of engineering, including process engineering, material science, chemistry, physics, power engineering, automation and control, electrical engineering, and solid-state chemistry.
Activities in the Hy-SPIRE Project
CTH2 IPE-NRI coordinates the Hy-SPIRE project. In addition, it is actively engaged in conducting electrochemical measurements of novel O-SOE and P-SOE cells, as well as in assessment of the performance of the SOE stack, which will incorporate innovative solutions developed within the project. The team is also responsible for developing harmonized testing protocols and performing post-mortem analyses on the tested cells. Furthermore, CTH2 IPE-NRI will contribute to dissemination and exploitation activities.
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt
Website: https://www.dlr.de/tt/en/
The current societal challenges in relation to energy supply require a strong reduction of greenhouse gases emissions, an increase in the use of renewable energies and a more efficient utilization of energy.
At the Institute for Technical Thermodynamics of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), we help to address these challenges of our time and help to shape the future. With our research at the five locations Stuttgart, Cologne-Porz, Ulm, Oldenburg and Hamburg, we focus on key technologies in energy storage and energy conversion such as fuel cells, electrolysers, batteries and heat storage for industrial applications.
These play a crucial role in our energy supply and have a direct impact on competitiveness and prosperity. In addition to energy topics, topics from the areas of aviation, space travel and transport are also addressed. We develop innovative solutions from simulation to implementation in complete systems.
Our technologies have a positive impact on a safe, affordable and environmentally friendly energy supply. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships at national and international levels, we contribute to developing low-emission energy concepts and increasing the efficiency of energy systems.
Activities in the Hy-SPIRE Project
In Hy-SPIRE, the focus of DLR is set on the development of thin film electrolytes, and their integration into metal supported SOC and PCC. DLR owns a key IP on the implementation and production of thin film electrolyte in SOC and PCC that is especially relevant to the project objectives.
DLR has a facility equipped for ceramic cell processing in practical scales, the characterization of their physical/chemical properties, as well as electrochemical performance tests with wide range of electrochemical test benches.
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet - DTU
Website: https://www.energy.dtu.dk/
DTU Energy has dedicated over 20 years to the advancement of electrochemical conversion devices and membrane reactors, including Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOELs) and Proton Conducting Ceramic based Electrolysis Cells (PCCELs). A key strength lies in the identification of critical challenges that limit the performance of these devices.
Leveraging deep insights, DTU provides solutions to overcome these obstacles. The institution boasts state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for the manufacturing, testing, and characterization of PCCELs, along with sophisticated models to analyze components’ failure and degradation.
Activities in the Hy-SPIRE Project
In the Hy-spire project, DTU Energy is set to coordinate the development of P-SOE cells, encompassing both all-ceramic and metal-supported cells. Our unparalleled expertise in materials development and advanced electrochemical processes positions them as a leader in this field.
DTU’s extensive experience in the preparation and evaluation of materials SOELs and PCCELs, combined with well-equipped laboratories for physicochemical and microstructural analyses, and electrochemical testing facilities, underscores the DTU team’s invaluable contribution to the project.
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Website: https://www.epfl.ch/labs/gem/
EPFL is one of the leading European technical Universities, with >10000 students, 6500 collaborators (2000 PhD students), and 500 labs.
Activities in the Hy-SPIRE Project
Fondazione Bruno Kessler
Website: www.fbk.eu/en | www.energy.fbk.eu
Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) is a private non-profit research institution located in the Autonomous Province of Trento and operating in a variety of scientific fields and disciplines. FBK’s mission is to advance scientific excellence in basic and applied research and to positively impact on society. FBK promotes interdisciplinary and international research through eleven research centres dedicated to technology and innovation and to humanities and social sciences.
The Centre for Sustainable Energy promotes R&I on new energy solutions, for the production, distribution and storage of energy in order to minimize environmental impact and contribute to the deep decarbonization of our society, targeting technology transfer in collaboration with industrial and territorial partners.
Activities in the Hy-SPIRE Project
Fondazione Bruno Kessler, through the Center for Sustainable Energy, will lead the Work Package 4, therefore managing the activities of communication, dissemination and exploitation, and providing a techno-economic analyses supported by life cycle assessment (LCA) addressing the recycling and end-of-life scenarios for the developed technology.
FBK will also be in charge of the testing of the stack and the development of dedicated protocols and procedures for the testing activity on novel SOE stack based on metal and electrode supported cells.
Fundació Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya
Website: http://www.irec.cat
The Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC) is a public research center ascribed to the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda of the Generalitat de Catalunya, in which the Department of Research and Universities and the Catalan Energy Institute (ICAEN) also participate. IREC is a CERCA center and accredited as a TECNIO center.
Created in 2008, it aims to contribute to the sustainable development of society and to increase the competitiveness of industry in the energy sector.
The center develops research of excellence in the medium and long term, innovation and the development of new technological products and the dissemination of relevant knowledge by the public.
Activities in the Hy-SPIRE Project
Within the Hy-spire project, IREC will be highly focused on reducing sintering time and energy consumption by employing ultrafast high sintering routes, alongside conducting morphological and structural analyses of the produced SOC/PCC cells.
SolydEra
Website: www.solydera.com
SolydEra is a key world player in the market of Solid Oxide Cells, Stacks and Solutions, with the largest annual production capacity in Europe. Its Solid Oxide Technology has a proven track record and delivers best in class performance and durability in both fuel cell and electrolysis mode. The company has research & development and industrial manufacturing facilities in Italy, Switzerland and Australia. Its headquarters is in Trentino Alto Adige, Italy.
Activities in the Hy-SPIRE Project
In Hy-SPIRE, SolydEra’s focus is on the integration of oxygen ion- and proton-conducting cells (O-SOE and P-SOE, respectively) into a compact and low-cost stack design, adapted for operation under dynamic conditions at intermediate temperatures. SolydEra will leverage its extensive experience in solid oxide stack design and manufacturing, along with the availability of its pilot plant in Mezzolombardo for stack prototyping on a pre-industrial scale.
CONTACT US
Jakub Kupecki
Project Coordinator for Hydrogen Technologies
Center for Hydrogen Technologies
Institute of Power Engineering – National Research Institute
This work is part of the research activities of the project Hy-SPIRE. The project is supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and its members Hydrogen Europe and Hydrogen Europe Research, under grant agreement No 101137866.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.