The ADEL consortium

The ADEL project brings together European institutions with unique expertise, and as such, constitutes the most advanced European consortium in the field of Steam Electrolysis coupled to renewable energy sources for efficient hydrogen production.

HTceramix SA, Switzerland

HTceramix is a dynamic and rapidly progressing developer of high temperature electroceramic applications in the field of energy and gas conversion devices. The SME company is located in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland. HTc focuses its activities on market and product development, generating revenues both through sales commission and engineering services.

Its competence in system integration acquired through the in-house developed SOFC power module HoTbox™ gives it a competitive advantage when establishing partnerships with large OEM companies in the combined heat and power market. Based on the core competences in SOFC system development, high temperature electrolysis is a well aligned strategic business option for HTc.

This spin-off activity results from more than 10 years of dedicated research in the field of SOFC at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). For the industrialization of its products on the way to mass production, HTc has entered a partnership with SOFCpower SpA in Trento, Italy.

Role in the project

Tceramix coordinates the ADEL project and is partner for stack testing and electrolyser system simulation.

Contact

Olivier Bucheli, Managing Director
Website

accelopment AG, Switzerland

accelopment assists companies and scientists at universities in the administration and management of EU projects, as well as the dissemination and exploitation of project results.

All our staff have a university degree in economics/business or social sciences. With over 15 years of experience in European and nationally funded projects we are specialized in these four areas: Energy, environment, ICT and the life sciences. accelopment is a partner and subcontractor in several FP7 projects such as PILGRIM, HEALING and SYSWIND.

Role in the project

Assistant to the Coordinator for project administration and management, as well as for the communication of project results.

Contact

Jeanette Müller, CEO
Website, Email

Commissariat à l’énergie atomique, France

CEA is a French Governmental Research Organisation devoted to both fundamental and industrial R&D in the field of energy, information and health technologies, and defence. The business unit hosting the project, CEA-LITEN (Laboratory of Innovations for New Energies Technologies) is located in Grenoble and addresses the following energy applications: hybrid components for micro-power sources, solar thermal and photovoltaic energies, hydrogen production and storage, batteries and fuel cells (SOFC and PEFC).

Role in the project

CEA is leading the work package WP1 “stack component optimization”.

Contact

Karine Couturier, Research engineer in electrochemical characterisation of electrolysis cells
Website, Email

Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Germany

Four future oriented fields of research form the key areas of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) activities: aeronautics, space flight, transport research, and energy technology. DLR’s Solar Research Division has experience of more than 20 years in both national and international co-operative RTD projects concerning the application of solar radiation. The RTD work followed in all segments of the use of concentrated solar energy for power production, for solar chemistry, for solar materials research, for technoeconomic system analyses including feasibility and market studies, for engineering, for plant operation simulation and performance prediction.

Role in the project

DLR is WP leader of WP3 (H2 Plant flow sheet and cases study) and also involved in WP2 (Integration issues). DLR’s activity will mainly focus on the heat and power supply to the electrolyser, in particular addressing renewable energy sources. DLR will develop and evaluate process concepts and flow sheets with a special emphasis on the interface between electrolyser and energy source. DLR will participate in the analysis of specific application scenarios and in the preparation of a demonstration case.

Contact

Dr Martin Roeb, Project Manager
Website, Email

Empresarios Agrupados, Spain

Empresarios Agrupados is a leading architect-engineering organisation in Spain with significant international experience, providing a complete range of consulting, project management, engineering and design, procurement, construction management, plant testing, safety assessment, quality assurance, as well as plant operation and maintenance support services to the electric utility industry.

Founded in 1971, 65% of EA’s staff are university graduates, involved in engineering projects and services in the electric utility sector. In the field of power generation, EA’s work includes the design, construction and operation support of nuclear, fossil-fired and hydroelectric power plants and radioactive waste management facilities, as well as the safety assessment, modernisation, back fitting, repowering and life extension of operating plants and facilities.

EA has completed the engineering and construction of power plant projects totalling more than 35,500 MWe of power generating capacity worldwide.

EA has provided engineering and consultancy services, and completed projects in Spain and some 35 other countries. The company has been ranked by Engineering News-Record among the Top 200 International Design Firms.

With regard to nuclear projects, the company provides consulting and architect-engineering services to nuclear units and electric utilities in Spain and in many other countries (e.g. Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Czech Republic, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Slovak Republic, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, USA, Yugoslavia, etc).

Role in the project

Partner of WP2 (Integration issues) and WP3 (H2 Plant flow sheets and cases study).

Contacts

María Teresa Domínguez, Advanced Project Manager
Website, Email

Alfredo Orden, Head of the Components Section
Website, Email

Anabella Drisaldi Castro, Mechanical Engineer
Website, Email

Ignacio Cañadas Martinez, Mechanical Engineer
Website, Email

Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing, Switzerland

EMPA is a fully independent public research institution with about 800 employees, concentrating on the five strategic R+D programmes Nanotechnology, Adaptive Materials and Systems,Technosphere & Atmosphere, Healthy Human and Materials for Energy Technologies. The Laboratory 138, “Hydrogen & Energy” at Empa, addresses scientific questions and technological problems from hydrogen synthesis, hydrogen in solids to hydrogen as an energy carrier as well as applications like catalytic combustion of hydrogen, batteries and supercaps.

Role in the project

As work task leader of WT1.4, EMPA is in charge of an advanced analysis method for studying and understanding degradation and aging mechanisms of SOE cells, leading to a better understanding and improvement of future cell materials.

Contact

Dr Ulrich Vogt, Senior Scientist and team leader water electrolysis
Website, Email

Abengoa Hidrógeno S.A., Spain

Abengoa Hidrógeno, S. A. is a company headquartered in Seville (Spain), a city it has been linked with since its very establishment. The objective of Abengoa Hidrógeno, an Abengoa company, is the organization and operation of businesses and activities related with the production of electric energy utilizing different technology fuel cells, as well as the production of hydrogen from renewable sources, and its clean and efficient use.

Abengoa is a technology company that applies innovative solutions for sustainable development in the infrastructure, environment and energy sectors, while providing long-term value for its shareholders via management characterized by the fostering of entrepreneurial spirit, social responsibility, transparency and rigor. Abengoa is structured into five business units (Solar, Bioenergy, Environmental Services, Information Technologies, and Industrial Engineering and Construction), each of which specializes in a different field; it also has the Focus-Abengoa Foundation and a corporate area.

The synergy that arises between Abengoa Hidrógeno and the technologies it deals with, and other activities of the different business units, such as solar energy, the production of electric energy, or biofuels, is clearly evident.

Abengoa Hidrógeno was established in 2003, incorporating personnel from different Abengoa companies who, since 1999, had been working with hydrogen and fuel cells. Over the years, the company has established relationships and contacts with the sector’s main players, and has achieved quantifiable leadership in projects, patents, publications and R&D&I investment.

Role in the project

Abengoa is partner of WP2 (ITSE integration and operability) and WP4 (Dissemination and Networking).

Contact

Cristina Lucero, Systems Engineer
Email

HyGear b.v., The Netherlands

HyGear is an innovative SME based in Arnhem, the Netherlands, with a focus on the development and manufacturing of hydrogen generation products, suchas fuel processors for fuel cells and on-site hydrogen generators (HGS) engineering skills, prototyping capabilities, and the strong commitment to move hydrogen related technologies closer to market entry. HyGear brings system development and customer requirements knowledge to the ADEL consortium. At present, HyGear employs 45 persons.

Role in the project

HyGear is part of WP2 (integration issues) and WP3 (H2 Plant flow sheets and cases study). In close cooperation with the responsible partners, HyGear will design and model the HTE unit and investigate the interaction of external energy and heat sources. In WP3, HyGear will participate in total system design.

Contacts

Dr Ellart de Wit, Director of Governmental Affairs & Research Programs
Website, Email

Dr-Ing Michael Walter, Head of the Components Section
Website, Email

Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados, Spain

The IMDEA Energía Institute was created by the Regional Government of Madrid in order to promote R&D activities in energy, with the main emphasis on areas related to renewable energy and clean energy technologies. IMDEA Energía is full founding member of N.ERGHY, the RG in the FCH Joint Undertaking.

Role in the project

IMDEA is partner of WP2 and WP3 and leader of WP4. IMDEA leads Tasks 2.3 and 3.1 and a number of subtasks.

Contact

Dr Manuel Romero, Deputy Director
Website, Email

Joint Research Centre, Belgium

The Institute for Energy (IE) is part of the Directorate General Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. Its mission is to provide scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of community policies related to energy. Special emphasis is given to the security of energy supply and sustainable and safe energy production. JRC-IE supports EU actions by executing its specific research programmes in the fields of clean and sustainable energy spanning both nuclear and non-nuclear domains. Typical activities encompass performance assessment of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies. The Institute concentrates on S&T reference systems for policy support at European level, networking, especially in areas where integrated action at the Union level in support to policies is needed, and finally on mobility of scientific skills.

Role in the project

IMDEA is partner of WP2 and WP3 and leader of WP4. IMDEA leads Tasks 2.3 and 3.1 and a number of subtasks.

Contact

Dr Georgios Tsotridis, Scientific Officer
Website, Email

SOFCpower SpA, Italy

SOFCpower (SP) is a dynamic and rapidly progressing Italian SME that develops and manufactures high temperature electroceramic devices based on the Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) technology for stationary applications, including micro-cogeneration and remote power.

SP was created in 2006 by carving out the SOFC activities started in 2002 within the Eurocoating-Turbocoating Group, a privately-held group active in the fields of coatings and processes for gas turbines, machinery and biotechnology. In early 2007, SP acquired 100% of HTceramix SA in Yverdon-les-Bains (Switzerland), a spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL).

For the industrialization of its products, SP built a pilot manufacturing plant for cells, stacks and SOFC generators in Mezzolombardo, Italy, with a production capacity of 2 MW/year. The company is comprised of a young and motivated team of about 30 people.

Role in the project

SOFCpower develops and adapts SoA cells for ITSE operation and provides cells and short stacks to test partners.

Contact

Dr Dario Montinaro, Scientific Officer
Website, Email

Topsoe Fuel Cell A/S, Denmark

Topsoe Fuel Cells A/S (TOFC) is a 100% owned subsidiary of Haldor Topsøe A/S (HTAS), Denmark, with 120 employees and a production facility for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) with an eventual capacity of 5 MW/year. TOFC is dedicated to the development, manufacturing and marketing of SOFC fuel cell technology. The company supplies cells, stacks and integrated hotbox modules and reaches the end-customer through established partnerships with integrator-companies which already have a well proven channel-to-market based on conventional technology. In addition to the SOFC activities, TOFC also aims at developing cells and stacks for high temperature SOEC electrolysis.

HTAS/TOFC has been engaged in fuel cell development for more than 20 years. Since 1989, HTAS/TOFC has been an active partner within the Danish solid oxide fuel cell programme in collaboration with Risø National Laboratory and other Danish research institutes, and has participated in EU solid oxide projects since 1991. TOFC was started up in December 2004, where all of HTAS’ fuel cell activities and assets were transferred to the subsidiary.

Role in the project

TOFC is partner in WP1 (Stack component optimisation), WP2 (Integration issues) and WP3 (H2 Plant flow sheets and cases study).

Contacts

Niels Christiansen, Director Innovation
Website, Email

John Bøgild Hansen, Senior Scientist & Advisor to Chairman
Website, Email