Advanced hydrogen and fuel-cells solutions for energy transition

Hydrogen is emerging as a pillar of tomorrow’s sustainable energy policies, serving as an enabler of renewable energy integration into smart grids, powering mobility, and providing stationary energy storage.

To limit the carbon footprint associated with this energy vector, green hydrogen production will be a requirement. Research in this area focuses on new low-temperature (alkaline and PEM) and high-temperature (solid oxide) electrolyzers.

Hydrogen transportation and storage and the conversion of hydrogen into power and heat are also key challenges.
CEA is developing proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) for new generations of hydrogen vehicles and for combined heat and power (CHP) generators.

There are scientific challenges across the hydrogen value chain, from developing new rare-metal-free materials like catalysts and inventing disruptive fuel cell and electrolyzer components, to making system architectures more efficient through innovative solutions like hybridization with other energy system constituents like renewable energy sources, batteries, and power electronics.