Geothermal energy has a large potential as a clean, renewable energy source. The proposed project is part of the HOCLOOP project, the idea of which is to use an innovative horizontal closed loop solution for the extraction of heat from deep or shallow formation rocks. The proposed project will expand research on the use of alternative circulation fluids to water, such as CO2-based and IL-based fluids, in line with the research planned in the HOCLOOP project and in full cooperation with the other partners. The work will also cover the investigation of a potential pilot site in Poland, covering environmental assessment and social acceptance. This is particularly important as this area is still dominated by carbon-intensive energy, and the transition to clean, renewable energy sources is a major challenge. An analysis of the Polish case study will be in line with the methodology outlined in the HOCLOOP project, with strong cooperation from other partners. In addition, the project will examine the feasibility of using the presented innovative source of renewable energy within a variety of existing or emerging industrial sectors. It is expected that the solution will enable the exploitation of geothermal energy sources as well as conditions in Poland and Central Europe. In addition, the implementation of the project will enable the establishment of extensive contacts between partners, promoting the transfer of knowledge, experience, and good practices to the widening country and supporting the career development of young researchers.

The goal of this project is in addressing critical issues towards a commercial implementation of hydrogen powered utility vehicles (test case – forklift) using metal hydride (MH) hydrogen storage and PEM fuel cells, together with the systems for their refuelling at industrial customers facilities. For these applications, high specific weight of the metallic hydrides is an advantage, as it fits a purpose of vehicle counterbalancing without an extra cost. However, slow H2 charge / discharge of the MH systems, complexity of their design and high cost, together with efficiency of system integration remain great challenges to overcome. The present RISE proposal will address these problems by a collective effort of consortium containing experienced, high profile academic teams and industrial partners from two EU Member States (Germany, Croatia), one associated country (Norway) and two third countries (South Africa, Indonesia). The work will strengthen already existing and will establish new collaborative links. This will allow overcoming the challenges associated with implementation of Metal Hydride technologies in transportation and in promoting their commercialisation in the European countries contributing to the project consortium. Various efficient and cost-competitive solutions including (i) advanced MH materials for hydrogen storage and compression, (ii) Advanced MH containers characterised by improved charge-discharge dynamic performance and ability to be mass produced, (iii) integrated hydrogen storage and compression / refuelling systems will be developed and tested together with PEM fuel cells during the collaborative efforts of the consortium members having a strong expertise in hydride materials science, manufacturing of the advanced hydrogen storage materials, design and manufacturing of gas sorption reactors, fuel cell system integration, as well as in manufacturing of the fuel cell power modules, utility vehicles, and their optimisation for the customers.

PEM water electrolysers (PEMWE) and PEM fuel cell (PEMFC) technologies currently rely on perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA)-based materials and components, which pose significant health and environmental risks due to the release of toxic fluorine groups during production and disposal. Moreover, the production of PFSA remains costly, compounding the challenges associated with their use. Therefore, the ECOPEM project aims at developing safe-by-design, non-fluorinated hydrocarbon-based membranes, reinforcements, and ionomers. This ambitious work will be facilitated by the development and implementation of life cycle thinking tools addressing environmental and economic dimensions to drive the research and innovation using quantifiable sustainability criteria. ECOPEM will deliver scientific breakthroughs in the design and processing of materials, components and membrane electrode assembles (MEAs) enabling replacement of PFSAs by hydrocarbon-based polymers in membranes and catalyst layers. The project will validate the significant benefits of these MEAs by demonstrating an increased current density, reaching a minimum of 3 A cm-2 at a cell voltage of 1.8 V and degradation rate 1.5 W/cm2 at 0.650 V and a degradation rate < 5 µV/h for PEMFC using harmonized JRC testing procedures. Achieving these ambitious targets would result in a new standard for hydrocarbon-based MEAs for PEMWE and PEMFC applications.