Reversible Alkaline Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolysis (REVAL)

Project goals

The project team develops and tests a new type of technology: reversible alkaline membrane electrolysis. Its purpose is to meet the following special challenges:

• high chemical stability of existing anion-conductive membranes even at high current densities,
• use of suitable electrocatalysts which are suited for both electrolysis and fuel cell mode,      
• a cell structure suitable for reversible operation.

In the course of the project, the technical maturity of reversible alkaline membrane electrolysis (rAEM) is to be increased from currently TRL 2 to TRL 5. The project goal is a functioning rAEM short stack (10 kW) as a laboratory setup.

Application

The expected results are important prerequisites for a further technical and scientific development of electrolysis technology towards more efficient, dynamic and permanently stable applications. This applies in particular to small and medium-sized decentralized plants (energy storage and source, hydrogen production with electrolysers and conversion into electricity in fuel cells). These project results can be seamlessly developed further. The research, particularly the innovations in materials and manufacturing technology, will radiate to neighboring areas, for example the production of MEAs (membrane electrode assemblies) and gas diffusion electrodes.