The European Green Deal sponsored by the European Union to achieve climate neutrality by the year 20250 believes that green hydrogen is one of the key factors for decarbonisation to happen in EU countries. In fact, this strategy proposes that up to 6 GW of hydrogen be produced by 2024 and 40 GW by 2030 within the community.

One of the key technologies that could help to achieve the goals set in terms of hydrogen production is associated with the so-called PEM electrolysers that offer major advantages such as the degree of purity obtained in hydrogen and their ease of installation at renewable energy facilities. High manufacturing costs associated with the process and materials used, however, make it necessary to implement more affordable solutions instead of using catalysts based on precious metals.

Tekniker, an organisation with extensive experience in the area of electric systems use to produce hydrogen, is currently working within the framework of the H2BASQUE project focused on using an advanced magnetron sputtering technique to minimise the use of precious metals and reduce manufacturing costs associated with catalysts at an industrial level, although without affecting the efficiency and durability of those units currently on the market. 

Thanks to this technology, Tekniker can address two major challenges associated with reducing the amount of precious metals on these critical components and manufacturing catalysts that are related to reduce durability and less conversion efficiency. 

Humid techniques are used to produce these catalysts that are sprayed on the electrodes, but this produces significant material wastage. Thanks to the magnetron sputtering technique, materials can be manufactured in a single pass, with total control in terms of composition and morphology. No handling is required to deposit the material directly on the electrode.

This means that it is now possible to manufacture catalysts containing less precious metals; a crucial feature, as these materials are very expensive and scarce. 

Characterisation techniques will be used to evaluate Tekniker’s new developments to validate their use with regard to producing green hydrogen, clean energy and more decarbonisation once installed at renewable energy plants. 

H2BASQUE (Technologies to Boost the Hydrogen Economy in the Basque Country) is an initiative funded by the Elkartek 2021 programme sponsored by the Basque Country that addresses the development of critical components and innovative technologies to generate green hydrogen. There are several universities, companies and technology centres of the Basque Country involved in this action.