European Project Second Act Simulation, Statistics and Experiments Coupled to develop Optimized and Durable µCHP systems using Accelerated Tests

Motivation Fuel Cells and Hydrogen technologies are reaching good levels in performance for stationary applications, mainly Combined Heat and Power. They recently benefited from major improvements to reduce their costs and increase their lifetime. However, strong additional efforts are still needed to reach competitive durability targets, compared to other energy production means. Concept Second Act proposes to work on the understanding and reduction of degradation of 3 low temperature Fuel Cell technologies. These different technologies have been considered because they have reached equivalent development levels, thanks to the support of European industry partners, and because their R&D efforts can be combined, due to similar issues with regard to their causes for degradation. These technologies are pure hydrogen Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC), reformate PEMFC and Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC), operating below 90°C. The project groups 9 key players of Fuel Cells that share this technical point of view and have a good experience of EU project in the field: CEA, IRD, Nedstack, ICI, POLIMI, DLR, JRC, SINTEF and TUG. It is based on previous projects funded by the FCH-JU program where Second Act partners were largely involved: Premium Act, KeePEMalive and Stayers.

At a Glance Project Title: Simulation, Statistics and Experiments Coupled to develop Optimized and Durable µCHP systems using Accelerated Tests Call Topic: AIP SP1-JTI-FCH.2013.3.1 - Improving understanding of cell & stack degradation mechanisms using advanced testing techniques, and developments to achieve cost reduction and lifetime enhancements for Stationary Fuel Cell power and CHP systems Duration:  01 May 2014 – 31 October 2017 Total Budget (EUR): 4 643 707 FCH JU Contribution (EUR): 2 523 254 Other contribution (EUR): 137 000 (Research Concil of Norway) Contact: Dr. Sylvie Escribano  (CEA) sylvie.escribano@cea.fr