FASTCH2ANGE aims to pioneer a sustainable-by-design method for developing TRL4-compliant 100% PFAS-free proton exchange membrane-based electrolysis (PEMEL) cells. It will focus on developing four fluorine-free components: proton exchange membranes, catalyst-supporting layers, transport and gas diffusion layers, and new sealing components like gaskets and insulation plates. FASTCH2ANGE will achieve this by designing, developing, and testing new PFAS-free PEMs at TRL4. These PEMs will be made using TEOS-based hybrid organic-inorganic ionomers, targeting an operating current density of 3.0 A/cm at 1.8 V cell voltage, with a degradation rate under 5 V/hr by 2030. Innovations in catalyst coating technologies will be explored, including an optimized ink deposition technique. Additionally, fluoroelastomers-free liquid-gas diffusion layers will be prepared using a sol-gel process with silicon alkoxides to improve hydrophobicity and thermal stability. FASTCH2ANGE also plans to develop PFAS-free sealing components using silicon-based sol-gel formulations and advanced materials like stainless steel, polyetheretherketone, and polyphenylene sulfide, employing high-performance coatings such as diamond-like carbon and ceramic. Hence, an advanced testing platform utilizing multisingle cells proprietary technology will test the newly developed catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs), achieving a first-of-its-kind PFAS-free 5-cells stack with optimal components. Harmonized European testing protocols will be used, and the cross-integrability with fuel cell technologies will be assessed in close synergy with SUSTAINCELL and EVERYWH2ERE projects. FASTCH2ANGE new components will allow the replacement of 10-11% by weight of a new generation of electrolysis systems with harmless materials, that for the envisioned European 140 GW capacity would mean saving up to 10500 tons of PFAS crafted into PEMEL components by 2030.

Nowadays the overall energy demand in downstream steel production is mainly based on fossil fuel, so it is fundamental to find and set new ways to overcome the environmental impact of steel production Currently, the state-of-art of reheating furnaces is based on CH4 burners, with an evident environmental impact on CO2 emissions The main objective is to decarbonize this process, based on the introduction of hybrid heating technology, based on electrification and gas-burning properly combined. This solution provides an opportunity to explore the synergic effect of different technologies, by “hybrid heating”. Moreover, the whole efficiency of the heating process can be furtherly improved by the recovery of enthalpy content of off-gases from the furnace. The furnace partial electrification will be realized by the installation of an induction system. The electricity to feed the inductor will be provided by a renewable source (RES) and by the heat recovery system.

TERASUN aims to develop technologies making c-Si PV solar cells more efficient and cost-effective. The project will innovate on Si heterojunction (SHJ) solar cell technology, currently holding the c-Si power conversion efficiency record of 26.81% for single junction c-Si solar cells. By targeting higher efficiencies and lower costs, TERASUN paves the way for mass production of improved SHJ solar cells. TERASUN will develop: (i) nanophotonic structures on module cover glass to minimise reflection (maximise absorption) and improve anti-soiling properties and improving the overall performance of the module, which will allow for reduced silicon consumption and higher efficiencies; (ii) innovative texturisation, including micro- and nanostructures for optimal light-trapping to enable the use ultrathin crystalline Si solar cells; (iii) novel heterojunction contacts based on metal-oxide layers implemented in interdigitated back contact (IBC) SHJ solar cells for very high efficiencies, and low-cost surface passivation for advanced surface structures; (iv) low-cost metallisation, replacing silver with copper to move towards a technology ready for terawatt production scale; and (v) direct bandgap architectures for implementation in IBC SHJ solar cells. These developments will help with approaching the fundamental limit of 29.43% on cell level and reducing cell-to-module losses for optimised energy yield. The strategic choice of materials (Cu, Al-doped Zn oxide, Sn oxide) will reduce the costs and supply chain risks. Environmental, economic and performance data associated with the developments will be gathered, evaluated and used to develop an algorithm based on multi-disciplinary design optimisation to create the TERASUN decision support tool (DST). The DST will provide stakeholders from industry and policymakers with: (i) recommendations related to the most promising technologies and (ii) a clear roadmap for the technologies developed in TERASUN towards TRL9.

Green hydrogen is gaining moment across Europe as feedstock, fuel or energy carrier and storage, as solid actions are needed to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Hydrogen has many possible applications across industry, transport, energy and building sectors and, therefore, local gas grids across Europe are working hard to get ready for its transport. The realization of the prospects of delivering H2/NG admixtures or even 100 % H2 by existing gas distribution grids exacerbates the problem of pipe integrity due to the well-known negative impact of hydrogen on the mechanical properties of metals. Most projects assessing safe hydrogen compatibility with natural gas distribution grids (i.e. H21, HydePloy,etc.) have performed experiments to study the leakage ratio, emission potential and explosion severity of vintage components. However, long-term material integrity assessment replicating distribution grid operating conditions in testing platforms is still necessary. CANDHy will allow the possibility of testing relevant metallic materials, different from the well-studied steels, with a methodology involving simultaneous test in independent R&D platforms with a common methodology. This will allow to obtain trustful and reproducible results about hydrogen tolerance of materials that have not been considered in previous research but that are an essential part in in low-pressure gas grids. CANDHy project will enable hydrogen distribution in low pressure gas grids by consolidated and exhaustive scientific data, coupled with harmonized guidelines for non-steel metallic grid materials. At least five material grades of different families (such as cast iron, copper, brass, lead, aluminium), both new and vintage, will be fully documented, and the results will be publicly available for all stakeholders in a continuously updated database. Mechanical tests will base on static and dynamic conditions to assess hydrogen sensitivity following the most relevant current and updated standards