HySpeedInnovation - A joint action plan for innovation and upscaling in the field of water electrolysis technology. Position paper

Green hydrogen, produced by electrolysis using renewable sources such as the sun and the wind, plays a crucial role in the energy transition. But much remains to be done to produce this clean energy carrier on an industrial scale and at an acceptable cost. Europe has good trump cards to achieve this. At the initiative of TNO, a number of leading knowledge institutes have launched proposals to take electrolysis up a notch, fast. These proposals are presented in this position paper, in which a number of leading European Research and Technology Organisations describe the upscaling challenges that lie ahead and how the knowledge institutions can come together to tackle these challenges in order to make Europe a leader in the field of electrolysis. The paper position set out the following proposals: - Significant upscaling of production capacity: An enormous challenge lies ahead in upscaling currently available technologies to GW-scale factories required to drive forward the energy transition. For Europe, this challenge is reflected in the European Green Deal, which puts renewable hydrogen produced by electrolysis high on the political agenda. - Fragmented knowledge and facilities: The researchers describe the advantages and disadvantages of the main technologies on which current electrolyzers are based and where improvements are needed. This involves a good balance between cost, performance and sustainability. - Working together intensively: to support and accelerate the required developments, the European RTOs propose to work together more intensively and in a more coordinated way. For this purpose, three sets of opportunities have been identified: Connecting Hydrogen labs, Setting clear performance standards, Monitoring performance of subsidized pilots. For each opportunity, actions have been identified that fall within the responsibilities of Europe's RTOs.