Final Report Summary - NEXPEL (Next-Generation PEM Electrolyser for Sustainable Hydrogen Production) The NEXPEL project consists of a top class European consortium which is carefully balanced between leading R&D organizations and major industrial actors from 4 member states. The partners are devoted to develop new materials and stack design concepts to increase the efficiency and lifetime of PEM electrolysers and at the same time cutting costs. The three main targets for the NEXPEL project is to demonstrate a capability to produce hydrogen with an efficiency of at least 75% (LHV) at a system cost below €5,000/Nm3h-1 plant capacity and a target lifetime in excess of 40,000 hours.The project objectives are all related to address the main hurdle for commercialisation of PEM electrolysers for hydrogen production from renewable energy sources, namely high capital costs and limited lifetime under intermittent operation.The project results have moved the state of the art of PEM electrolysers forward by contributing to both incremental improvements of existing commercial products from the involved industry partners as well as the development of new materials and solutions for stack components and designs.Development of lower cost components have resulted in new hydrocarbon membranes and supported catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction with the potential to reduce the overall capital cost of an electrolyser by reducing the need for expensive fluorinated membranes and noble metals. These materials show high potential in tests on laboratory scale; however continued efforts are needed before they are commercially exploitable.A cost break down model has been developed and a cost comparison between a conventional PEM electrolyser stack and the stack designed in NEXPEL show a cost reduction potential of more than 60% at a production volume of 1000 electrolyser stacks with a capacity of 25 Nm3h-1. The cost study also show that the advanced NEXPEL design can reach the system cost target of €5,000/Nm3h-1 plant capacity at a production volume of 100 stacks. The main cost reduction potential of the NEXPEL stack is the reduction in materials use and production cost of the Titanium bipolar plates.The unique competence generated within the project is proven indirectly through the establishment of a new FCH-JU project based on several of the NEXPEL partners in which new, major industrial partners have joined. From the European perspective, the project has strengthened European companies and research institutes position for developing both PEM electrolyser stack components, complete stacks and systems for hydrogen production from renewable energy sources by establishing a strong collaborative effort. Related documents NEGOTIATION GUIDANCE NOTES
