CLEANHYPRO gathers some of the most recognised experts in Europe on the electrolysis field for clean hydrogen production and acknowledged facilitators of technology transfer, corporate finance, funding and coaching, making available (i) the most promising and breakthrough manufacturing pilots and (ii) advanced characterization techniques and modelling together with (iii) non-technical services through this Test Bed: while relevant improvement metrics can be defined, the potential network of reachable stakeholders counts thousands of businesses on an international scale. Key facts are reported below. Within the scope of CLEANHYPRO, several circular innovative materials and key components, four main electrolysis technologies and geometries will be covered, providing for the first time a single entry point for industrial partners, mainly SMEs, aspiring to answer their concerns but with minimum investment costs and reduction of risks associated with technology transfer, while opening-up opportunities for demonstration of materials and components (TRL7) and thus faster opening the market for these new products. The main KPIs for CLEANHYPRO: Technical: >20% cell productivity improvement, 30% faster verification, 27-58% and 22-79% cost reduction of technologies in CAPEX and OPEX respectively, 3-9% efficiency enhancement. Non-Technical: 4 Showcases, 4 certification schemes, ≥16 Democases, >100 reachable SMEs and > 300 reachable investors. INNOMEM stems from the consideration that the development of products based on key materials and components for electrolysis require access to finance and an optimised business planning, relying on a sound prior analysis of the market, of the economic impacts and capacity of a company. The project aims at developing and organizing a sustainable Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB) for electrolysis materials and components for different applications. The OITB will also offer a network of facilities and services through a SEP to companies.

SUNER-C CSA overarching objective is to aggregate fragmented knowledge and develop the framework conditions to overcome scientific, technological, organizational and socioeconomic challenges to accelerate innovation and enable the transition of technologies for solar fuels and chemicals from laboratory and demonstrator level to large-scale industrial and broad societal application. Through a holistic approach, SUNER-C will contribute to circular economy by replacing fossil-derived fuels and chemicals by renewables and carbon recycling as key element towards the EU net-zero emissions target by 2050. SUNER-C will build upon the work of SUNERGY, a pan-European initiative on fossil-free fuels and chemicals from renewable power and solar energy, with to date over 300 supporting organisations across and beyond Europe. SUNER-C specific outcomes during the CSA will be to: develop an inclusive pan-European innovation community and eco-system on solar fuels and chemicals with global outreach, linked to political and societal needs, gathering stakeholders from different fields, sectors and disciplines around a shared vision, and coordinating with existing initiatives to ensure complementarity; develop a roadmap and a blueprint to implement it, as main drivers to identify and tackle long-term research and innovation challenges to de-fossilize society with solar fuels and chemicals; prepare the foundations for a large-scale research and innovation initiative (LSRI), ready to be launched at the end of the CSA, through an instrument to be agreed upon with the European Commission and the Member States. The LSRI will continue developing the eco-system and supporting the implementation of the roadmap, speeding up industrial and societal uptake of technologies for solar fuels and chemicals in the EU and contributing to wider, longer-term impacts, including those on “Increased autonomy in key strategic value chains for resilient industry” outlined in the Horizon Europe Work Programme.

The PROMISERS project goal lies in the advancement of new non per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) components for PEMFCs and PEMELs utilizing materials based on hydrocarbons and cellulose. The project will achieve this objective by focusing on developing multiple disruptive approaches for ionomers, membranes, electrode inks and MEAs which are free of PFAS. The project is aligned with sustainability principles, with no projected environmental barriers. Sustainable-by-design approaches and non-harmful materials will be targeted to ensure the environmental compatibility. Besides sustainability and zero pollution for the material fabrication also aspects such as safe-by-design, scalability and processing routes will be taken in account. PROMISERS represents a powerhouse consortium, including four major multinational companies: Syensqo (SOF, Chemicals and Polymers), Fumatech (innovative membranes for energy applications), Industrie De Nora (electrochemical industry) and RINA Consulting, two SMEs: Cellfion (sustainable membrane solutions) and Hysytech (engineering), two international research and technology organisations: Leitat, TNO, and an European university: IIT. PROMISERS will deliver and validate short stacks of PEMFC and PEMEL, targeting performances of > 1.5 Wcm-2 at 0.65 V for PEMFC and 3.0 Acm-2 at 1.8 V for PEMEL and with a degradation rate < 5 V/hr. A techno-economic evaluation and exploitation plan will be executed to move from the technological concept (TRL2) to a laboratory scale multicell-stack (TRL4) PEMFC and PEMEL to ensure a fast-track for its commercialisation.

In line with the European Green Deal, the Processes4Planet partnership and the European initiative for more affordable, secure and sustainable energy (REPowerEU), the RIA proposal Power2Hype aims to establish a sustainable route for the hydrogen peroxide production. Based on air and water as feedstocks, and renewable energy as the sole energy source, the POWER2HYPE route addresses an economically viable and green alternative to the classical energy-demanding anthraquinone oxidation (AO) process. Hydrogen peroxide will be produced by paired electrolysis at both the cathode and anode using an innovative custom-made 200% electrolyser. Aiming the electrification and decentralization of the chemical industry, the POWER2HYPE concept proposes the TRL 6 demonstration of electrolytic hydrogen peroxide production at any given concentration (from 20 to 99 %) at the site where it is needed. With this flexibility of concentration range, hydrogen peroxide could be used from sanitation, bleaching to niche markets as propulsion fuels.

The Green Deal sets up ambitious roadmaps for increasing EU sovereignty while promoting safer and more sustainable approaches. The SSbD framework published by JRC and adopted by the Commission proposes an approach to evaluate the safety, environmental, and socio/economic dimensions of molecules, materials and processes. The applicability of this framework is currently being tested under different typologies of products and maturity levels. PLANETS will demonstrate the applicability of the framework while technically developing alternatives for 3 of the most important classes of molecules in chemical industries (plasticizers, flame retardants and surfactants) at TRL 6 and their incorporation into broadly available consumer goods at TRL7. The new molecules and products will be significantly safer to workers and consumers and will have considerably lower environmental impact, while ensuring economic viability and social awareness throughout the 3 value chains (VC). PLANETS consortium brings together 18 complementary partners from 7 countries, including 7 large companies and 4 SMEs, covering the 3 complete VC, 4 RTO and the 3 non-profit organizations. These actors will bring the expertise required for all the project development: - Development of safer and more sustainable alternatives through SSbD assessments in a tiered approach. - Demonstration of the integration of the new molecules for the manufacturing of new products for various applications (coating, insulation foams and childcare articles). - Social and humanities sciences. - Business plans and market uptake approaches. - Digital Product Passport. - Identification of new skills and training. - Interactions with appropriate stakeholders and citizens and feedback to JRC and the EC. PLANETS ambitions are to strongly contribute to pave the road for the adoption of SSbD framework while proposing a roadmap towards industrialisation and market uptake of the alternative solutions.