Publisert: 25. februar 2025
Av Leire Caizán

Electrolysers & Fuel Cells Drives the Energy Transition

The shift towards clean energy...

... means moving away from fossil fuels and embracing renewable sources like solar and wind power. But there's a challenge—renewables are intermittent and don’t always provide electricity exactly when we need it. That’s why finding flexible energy solutions is key to making this transition work, especially for sectors like transportation, power generation, and industry. One of the most promising solutions comes from electrochemical devices like batteries, supercapacitors, and electrochemical cells (electrolysers and fuel cells). These devices help efficiently control and direct electricity, which is simply a flow of electrons—much like water flowing through a hose.  

Electrochemical cells are quite clever

They have two electrodes—an anode and a cathode—where chemical reactions take place, plus an electrolyte that allows ions to move between them while electrons flow through and external circuit, generating electricity. Depending on how they are used, they can either produce electricity from a chemical reaction (i.e., release electrons) or store electricity as a chemical compound (capture electrons) for later use, making them essential players in the future of energy. In other words, they can either act as fuel cells (FC mode), producing electricity from e.g. hydrogen (H₂) or methane (CH₄), or function as electrolysers (EC mode) to generate hydrogen by using electricity.

Why is hydrogen such a big deal?

Green hydrogen can be produced via EC using renewable energy (green power), instead of relying on its current fossil-based production; it can then be stored and transported and, unlike wind or solar, deliver electricity via FC in off-grid situations. Therefore, hydrogen is set to play a huge role in powering industries, transportation, and even chemical production (like ammonia and methanol) through the so-called power-to-X conversion technologies. Unlike conventional batteries, storing renewable energy as hydrogen offers higher energy density, a longer lifespan, and greater flexibility, making it a game-changer for the clean energy revolution.  

Electrolysers & Fuel Cells: Functionality & Future Directions  

 Researchers are also improving the design of cell stacks, which consist of individual cells (anode|electrolyte|cathode) arranged in series to increase the overall voltage and production capacity. They are finding smarter ways to control and optimize their operation while ensuring smooth integration with systems like renewable (intermittent) energy sources, storage solutions, and power management systems. On top of that, exciting innovations like hybrid and reversible cell designs (which switch between electrolysis and fuel cell modes), along with AI-driven optimization of cell components and performance predictions, are making these technologies more viable for large-scale energy applications. The future of clean energy is taking shape—and electrochemical devices are set to play a major role in it!  

Main properties and operating conditions

EU Funding Opportunities 

Horizon Europe Opportunities 

Within the Horizon Europe, there are Joint Undertakings or Partnerships that follow similar funding rules. The Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) typically releases calls for proposals annually, aiming to advance zero-emission power tech, storage solutions, and renewable fuels. Relevant topics for electrolysers and fuel cells appear in Call Modules 2, 3, and 4, with both RIA and IA projects (TRL 4-8). The 2025 call (not yet released) is expected to have the first deadline for a two-stage proposal application process in November.