Hybrid protonic reactor for flexible energy conversion, storage and transmission by reversible organic electrolysis

The increasing availability and affordability of renewable electricity are enabling the decarbonisation of many industrial sectors. A key tool is electricity storage, especially providing high-capacity, long-term storage and transportability.

However, currently-proposed energy-storage technologies are either based on energy-inefficient multistage processing or require electrified units at temperatures not compatible with catalytic steps. hyPPER vision is to combine process intensification and innovative molecular catalysis to bring out ground-breaking efficient, load-flexible and scalable reactor technology that intimately integrates LOHC-based storage and proton-ceramic steam-electrolysis/fuel-cell. hyPPER will develop a compact reactor cell integrating a hybrid layered membrane and selective electrodes.

Through the first-principles engineering of a proton-conducting electrolyte heterojunction, both ionic transport and electrocatalysis at LOHC-cycle operation conditions (250-400°C) will be enhanced.

As a result, this compact technology will boost atomic and round-trip efficiency in energy storage potentially reaching >75% , thus cutting associated GHG emissions.

Integration of the hyPPER concept in existing and emerging RE-plants and use cases will contribute to expanding the business portfolio and strengthen the sustainability and economic base of the energy sector. Up-scale viability will be analysed by considering techno- economic, regulatory, societal and sustainability criteria.

Upon fabrication of the cell applying advanced thin-film methods and catalyst integration, hyPPER will validate this technology (TRL-4) in the reversible electrochemically-driven LOHC charge/discharge.

The consortium counts on academic partners with the highest worldwide excellence in electroceramics, catalysis and nanofabrication of energy devices, together with leading industrial partners with exceptional expertise in sustainability and medium-temperature electrochemical cells.